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 Timeline for the life of Arthur Conan Doyle.  Arthur Conan Doyle at home at Windlesham (City of Westminster Libraries). 1859 Born in Edinburgh on 22 May to Charles (a clerk at the Office of Works) and Mary (an Irish emigrant with claims to a distinguished family history). 1867 Starts school at Newington Academy. 1868 Starts at Hodder, a Jesuit boarding school in Lancashire, paid for by his paternal uncles. 1870 Transfers to the upper school, Stonyhurst College. Enjoys sports and storytelling. 1875 Sent to Feldkirch, Austria, another Jesuit schoo. 1876 Starts at the University of Edinburgh, studying medicine. His physiology professor, William Rutherford, later provides the inspiration for the character Professor Challenger in The Lost World. Another of his lecturers, Dr Joseph Bell is an inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. 1879 First story – 'The Mystery of Sasassa Valley' – and first non-fiction – 'Gelseminium as a Poison' – published. 1880 Takes a break from studies and signs on as a surgeon on the Arctic whaling ship Hope. 1881 Graduates Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery. Joins the steamer Mayumba as the ship's medical officer. 1882 Returns to Britain. Joins George Budd in medical practice in Plymouth (unsuccessful). Moves to Southsea, Portsmouth to set up his own practice. 1885 Marries Louise Hawkins, sister of one of his Southsea patients. Completes his medical studies and graduates as MD. Developing an interest in spiritualism. 1887 'A Study in Scarlet', first Sherlock Holmes story, published in Beeton's Christmas Annua. 1888 A Study in Scarlet published in book form. 1889 Micah Clarke, first full-length novel published. Daughter Mary Louise born.  Bound editions of The Strand magazine (The Manhattan Rare Book Company). 1891 Sets up as an eye specialist in Wimpole Street, Westminster. 'A Scandal in Bohemia' is first Sherlock Holmes story to be published in The Strand. Gives up medicine to become full-time writer. 1892 Son (Arthur Alleyne) Kingsley born. 1893 Kills off Holmes in 'The Final Problem'. Moves to Haselmere, Surrey. Father dies. 1895 Visits Egypt for Louise's health. When fighting breaks out between the Dervishes and the British, offers his services to The Westminster Gazette, as a war correspondent. 1899 Outbreak of Boer War. Volunteers to work at a hospital in Cape Town. His pamphlet The War in South Africa: its cause and conduct helps generate support for the war effort. 1901 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', based on a Dartmoor legend is published, marking Holmes' return. 1902 Knighted. 1906 Louise dies of TB after long illness. 1907 On 18 September marries Jean Leckie, whom he had known for over ten years, in St Margaret's Church, Westminster. 1908 Moves to Windlesham in Crowborough, Sussex. 1909 Son Denis Percy Stewart born. Becomes president of Divorce Law Reform Union. 1910 Son Adrian Malcolm born. 1911 Meets the South American explorer Colonel Percy Fawcett. Declares himself in favour of Irish Home Rule, influenced by his friend Roger Casement (the inspiration for the character Lord John Roxton). 1912 The Lost World published. Daughter Lena Jean Annette born. 1914 Visits the USA. World War One breaks out. Serves as private in the Crowborough Company of the Sixth Royal Sussex Volunteer Regiment, and as a military correspondent and historian. 1916 Unsuccessfully appeals for clemency for Casement who is hanged for treason. 1917 Speaks publicly on spiritualism, which becomes his main pre-occupation for the remainder of his life. 1918 Son Kingsley dies of influenza having been injured at the Front. 1920 Is taken in by the hoax Cottingley fairies, damaging his reputation. 1921 Mother dies. 1922 Clips of forthcoming Lost World film shown at a gathering of magicians that includes Harry Houdini, a critic of spiritualism. 1925 The Lost World film released. Shown on Imperial Airways flight to Paris.  Illustration of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson from 'The Silver Blaze' (City of Westminster Libraries). 1828 The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Stories published. 1930 Dies on 7 July. Buried in the rose garden at Windlesham, but later interred with his wife in Minstead in the New Forest. |
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