Sherlock Holmes

1854- (?)

Consulting Detective Athletics [Great] • Fencing [Exceptional] • Education [Exceptional] • Fisticuffs [Good] • Hunch [Extraordinary] • Marksmanship [Great] • Perception [Extraordinary] • Physique [Great] • Stealth [Great] "In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing…and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination." The Great Detective Sherlock Holmes is a tall English gentleman with a wiry frame and a distinguished aquiline nose, and he is frequently encountered wearing his trademark Ulster coat, deerstalker cap, and a long cravat tightly wrapped around his neck. Due to his highly successful career as a consulting detective, chronicled faithfully by his friend and associate Dr. John Watson, he is fairly well-known (when not in disguise for a case he is working on of course). Holmes also enjoys smoking a good shag of tobacco from his meerschaum pipe, especially when he is occupied with a particularly challenging "three-pipe problem." Sherlock Holmes is a man of two personalities. When there is no problem to solve that occupies his time and faculties, he becomes silent and moody, shunning the company of his fellow man, and pining away on his violin. When a problem worthy of his attention presents itself, Holmes immediately becomes active, energetic and engaged. Holmes has no illusions about his gift for the art of detection. At the same time, he is no stranger to humility, and will freely admit when he is off the track or erroneous in his conclusions. In fact, he has instructed Watson, whenever it appears he is becoming overconfident in his abilities, to whisper "Norbury" in his ear ("The Yellow Face"). While on the surface he may appear to be arrogant and impatient with those who are not able to see the solution to a problem as readily as he can, he has never had a need for public acknowledgment. In fact, he is content with allowing the London Metropolitan Police or Scotland Yard to take credit for solving the crimes he has investigated on their behalf. His remarkable abilities might never have become public knowledge if it wasn't for the fact that his friend Watson has faithfully served as his chronicler, publishing the accounts of his many adventures and the methods of deduction and detection he employs. Holmes is greatly amused by this flattery.

Sherlock Holmes was born the third son of an English country squire on January 6, 1854. His older brother, Mycroft Holmes, was seven years his senior. In October of 1872, he entered Christ Church College at Oxford, having spent the previous summer in a class taught by Professor James Moriarty, who would later reenter Holmes life as his greatest nemesis. While attending university, Holmes investigated and solved the first case of his career (detailed in "The Gloria Scott"), the success of which provided the impetus for him to seriously decide on detective work as his future livelihood. After leaving Oxford in 1877, Holmes took rooms in London on Montague Street nearby the British Museum, and embarked on his career as a consulting detective. His early cases included "The Musgrave Ritual" as well as several other undocumented cases that are mentioned in passing in the stories of his later exploits.
In January of 1881, the historic first meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson took place in the chemistry lab at St. Bartholomew's Hospital where Holmes was conducting experiments. Their mutual friend Stamford introduced the two men when he realized both were in search of a roommate. The next day, Holmes and Watson moved into their now famous London lodgings at 221B Baker Street.

For ten years, Holmes and Watson worked together on many cases, starting with "A Study in Scarlet". On May 4, 1891, Sherlock Holmes was reported dead to the world by Dr. Watson following the events described in "The Final Problem". Apparently, a battle to the death ensued between the Great Detective and the infamous Professor Moriarty that resulted in both men tumbling over a cliff at Reichenbach Falls, Switzerland to a watery grave in the chasm below.

For three years after, Watson sincerely believed that Holmes was dead and only Holmes’ brother, Mycroft, knew that he was actually alive. Holmes traveled about as a Norwegian named Sigerson and visited Persia, Mecca, France, and Khartoum. His reasoning for the disappearance was that he had three criminals who were trying to kill him and by letting the world think he was dead, it would allow him to work uninhibited and destroy them.

After his return, Holmes undertook case after case until 1903. Many of Watson’s cases show Holmes at the peak of his powers during this period. Finally, in 1903, he retired to the Sussex Downs, where he engaged in beekeeping.

Publications and Monographs by Holmes

Literary references

A Timeline