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This article describes minor characters from the ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and from non-canonical derived works. The list excludes the titular character as well as Dr. Watson,
Professor Moriarty Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and criminal mastermind created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to be a formidable enemy for the author's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. He was created primarily as a device by which Doyle could ...
, Inspector Lestrade, Mycroft Holmes,
Mrs. Hudson Mrs. Hudson is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. She is the landlady of 221B Baker Street, the London residence in which Sherlock Holmes lives. Mrs. Hudson appears or is mentioned in man ...
, Irene Adler,
Colonel Moran Colonel Sebastian Moran is a fictional character in the stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. An enemy of Sherlock Holmes, he first appears in the 1903 short story "The Adventure of the Empty House". Holmes once described him as "the second most ...
, the Baker Street Irregulars, and characters not significant enough to mention.


Inspectors


Inspector Baynes

Inspector Baynes of the
Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
force appears in the two-part story " The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge", subtitled (i) "The Singular Experience of Mr John Scott Eccles", and (ii) "The Tiger of San Pedro". He is the only official policeman in the books to have ever matched Sherlock Holmes in his investigative skills. He is described as a very heavy man with a "puffy" face, but very intelligent eyes. In this story, the reader finds that, despite working along different lines, Holmes and Baynes both arrive at the correct conclusion and solve the case at the same time. In fact, Baynes had misled Holmes, as he used a method similar to one that Holmes often used when he arrested the wrong man and provided inaccurate information to the press, to lull the true criminal into a false sense of security. Holmes congratulated Baynes, and believed that he would go far. In the 1988
Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was it ...
adaptation of ''The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge'', Inspector Baynes is portrayed by Freddie Jones. A version of Inspector Baynes appears in the video game '' The Testament of Sherlock Holmes'' (2012), in which Baynes is employed by
Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs, but not the City of London, the square mile that forms London's ...
. In the Japanese puppetry television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' (2014–2015), Baynes is a pupil of
Beeton School is a fictional coeducational boarding school in which the NHK puppetry Sherlock Holmes is set. It is named after Beeton's Christmas Annual and Eton College. Summary The school setting is the first case in the screening history of the Seri ...
as well as Holmes and has a strong sense of rivalry against him. Baynes speaks in a precocious manner and provokes Holmes to find the truth of the disappearance of two pupils, Garcia and Henderson. After that, he provokes Holmes again by posting a message using the stick figures of dancing men in the school. Yōsuke Asari voices him.


Inspector Bradstreet

Inspector Bradstreet is a detective who appears in three short stories: " The Man with the Twisted Lip", " The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" and " The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb". Doyle described him as "a tall, stout official... in a peaked cap and frogged jacket". Sidney Paget's illustrations for the ''
Strand Magazine ''The Strand Magazine'' was a monthly British magazine founded by George Newnes, composed of short fiction and general interest articles. It was published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950, running to 711 issues, though the ...
'' depict him with a full beard. Beyond this little is revealed about him in the canon. Bradstreet originally served in Scotland Yard's E Division which associates him with the Bow Street Runners, a forerunner of Scotland Yard. He claims to have been in the force since 1862 ("The Man with the Twisted Lip") but in June 1889 Dr Watson writes he is in B Division to oversee "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle". According to Sherlockian author Jack Tracy, B Division was "one of the twenty-two administrative divisions of the Metropolitan Police Force. Its 5.17 square miles include parts of south Kensington and the south-western section of ". In "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb", he accompanied Holmes to Eyford, a village in Berkshire. According to Jack Tracy's ''The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana'', he was "assigned most likely to the central headquarters staff." Bradstreet is not a martinet; in "The Man with the Twisted Lip" he could have prosecuted the false beggar, but chose to overlook this action to spare Neville St Clair the trauma of shaming his wife and children. He is also featured in M. J. Trow's series '' The Adventures of Inspector Lestrade''. Herbert Rawlinson played Bradstreet in a radio adaptation of "The Man with the Twisted Lip" (1946) in '' The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes''. In the 1952–1969 series of Sherlock Holmes BBC radio adaptations, Bradstreet was played by Ronald Baddiley in the 1959 dramatisation of "The Man with the Twisted Lip". Bradstreet was portrayed by Victor Brooks in the 1965 television adaptation of the same story in the television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
''. Bradstreet appears four times in
Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was it ...
's '' The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'': "The Blue Carbuncle", " The Man with the Twisted Lip", " The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" (substituting for Inspector Lestrade, as Colin Jeavons was unavailable), and a cameo appearance in "
The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" is one of 12 Sherlock Holmes short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle in ''The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes'' (1927). It was first published in ''The Strand Magazine'' in the United Kingdom in October 1921, and w ...
". Initially he was played by Brian Miller as a blustering, pompous plodder, then later as much more competent by Denis Lill. In the 1989–1998 radio series of BBC Radio Sherlock Holmes adaptations, Bradstreet was played by David Goudge in two episodes in 1991.


Inspector Gregson

Inspector Tobias Gregson, a
Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs, but not the City of London, the square mile that forms London's ...
inspector, was first introduced in '' A Study in Scarlet'' (1887), and he subsequently appears in " The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter" (1893), " The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" (1908) and "
The Adventure of the Red Circle "The Adventure of the Red Circle" is one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. It is included in the anthology '' His Last Bow''. Synopsis Mrs. Warren, a landlady, comes to 221B Baker Street with some questions ...
" (1911). Holmes declares him to be "the smartest of the Scotland Yarders," but given Holmes' opinion of the Scotland Yard detectives, this is not sweeping praise. In one of the stories Watson specifically mentions the callous and cool way in which Gregson behaved. Gregson first appears in '' A Study in Scarlet'' and is a polar opposite of another Yarder Doyle created, Inspector Lestrade. Lestrade and Gregson are such visual opposites, it indicates the barrier Doyle drew between them to emphasise their professional animosity. Gregson is tall, "tow-headed" (fair-haired) in contrast to the shorter Lestrade's dark "ferretlike" (narrow) features and has "fat, square hands". Of all the Yarders, Gregson comes the closest to meeting
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
on intellectual grounds, while acknowledging Holmes's abilities. He even admits to Holmes that he always feels more confident when he has Holmes' aid in a case. Regrettably, he is bound within the confines of the law he serves, and the delay in getting his assistance turns to tragedy in "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter". He also has some regrettable human flaws. During ''A Study in Scarlet'' he publicly laughs at Lestrade's incorrect assumptions, even though he is also on the wrong trail. Unlike Lestrade, Gregson overlooks the little grey areas of the law, and in "The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter" overlooks Holmes's breaking of a window in order to enter a premises. The life of Mycroft Holmes's fellow lodger is saved by this minor criminal act. Gregson last appears in Doyle's "The Adventure of the Red Circle" in events that happen in 1902 but are not published by Dr Watson until 1911. In this story, Watson observes that:
Our official detectives may blunder in the matter of intelligence, but never in that of courage. Gregson climbed the stair to arrest this desperate murderer with the same absolutely quiet and businesslike bearing with which he would have ascended the official staircase of Scotland Yard. The Pinkerton man had tried to push past him, but Gregson had firmly elbowed him back. London dangers were the privilege of the London force.
Inspector Gregson has appeared in multiple pastiches written by other authors, including several short stories by Adrian Conan Doyle published in the 1954 collection ''
The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes ''The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes'' is a short story collection of twelve Sherlock Holmes pastiches, first published in 1954. It was written by Adrian Conan Doyle, who was the son of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the creator of Sherlock Holmes), and by ...
'', and the novel ''
Dust and Shadow ''Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson'' is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel by Lyndsay Faye which pits Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper.
'' (2009) by
Lyndsay Faye Lindsay or Lindsey () is an English surname and given name. The given name comes from the Scottish surname and clan name, which comes from the toponym Lindsey, which in turn comes from the Old English toponym ''Lindesege'' ("Island of Lind") fo ...
.


In other media

* John Willard played Inspector Gregson in the 1922 silent film ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
''. * In the 1945 film '' The Woman in Green'', Gregson was played by Matthew Boulton. * Eric Snowden played Inspector Gregson in the episode "The Strange Case of the Demon Barber" (1946) in the radio series '' The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes''. * In the 1952–1969 BBC radio series of Sherlock Holmes adaptations, Michael Turner voiced Gregson in the 1960 dramatisation of "The Greek Interpreter". He was played by Humphrey Morton in "A Study in Scarlet" (1962) and "The Red Circle" (1969). Geoffrey Wincott voiced Inspector Gregson in the 1966 dramatisation of "Wisteria Lodge". *
George A. Cooper George Alphonsus Cooper (7 March 1925 – 16 November 2018) was an English actor and voice artist. He died in November 2018 at the age of 93. Early life Cooper was born in Leeds, the son of William and Eleanor (née Dobson) Cooper. His father ...
played Inspector Gregson in two episodes of the television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' in 1968. * Frederick Treves voiced Inspector Gregson in the 1974 BBC radio drama "A Study in Scarlet". * In the Soviet television film series ''
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson'' (russian: link=no, italics=yes, Приключения Шерлока Холмса и доктора Ватсона) is a series of Soviet television films portraying Arthur Conan Doyle's ficti ...
'' (1979–1986), Inspector Gregson was played by Igor Dmitriev. * Inspector Gregson was portrayed by Oliver Maguire in the 1985 episode "The Greek Interpreter" in the Granada Television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
''. * In the BBC Radio Sherlock Holmes series with Clive Merrison as Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Gregson was voiced by John Moffat in ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1989), and by Ronald Herdman in "The Greek Interpreter" (1992) and "The Red Circle" (1994). * Inspector Gregson appears in the video game '' The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel'' (1992), and is briefly seen at Scotland Yard in the sequel '' The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Rose Tattoo'' (1996). * Gregson appears in two cases in the video game '' Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. III'' (1993). * In Sherlock Holmes radio dramas on ''
Imagination Theatre ''Imagination Theatre'' is an American syndicated radio drama program airing on FM and AM radio stations across the United States. It features modern radio dramas. The program first aired in 1996. Originally produced by Jim French Productions, t ...
'', Inspector Gregson is played mainly by John Murray. * A character named Captain Gregson of the NYPD appears in the TV adaptation '' Elementary'' (2012–2019), portrayed by Aidan Quinn. Originally he was to be called Tobias Gregson, after the character in the stories, but his name was changed to Thomas Gregson. * Tobias Gregson is the main police detective in the game '' The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures'' (2015), before being replaced by Gina Lestrade, a pickpocket based on Inspector Lestrade whom Gregson trained in detective work. * Edward Harrison voiced Inspector Gregson in ''Sherlock Holmes: The Voice of Treason'', an Audible Original 8-hour audio drama released in 2020. * Gregson appears in the anime '' Moriarty the Patriot''. * Gregson is played by Tim Key in the streaming television series '' The Irregulars''.


Inspector Hopkins

Inspector Stanley Hopkins is a
Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs, but not the City of London, the square mile that forms London's ...
detective and a student of Holmes's deductive methods, who attempts to apply them in his own investigations. Holmes, however, is very critical of Hopkins's ability to apply them well, Hopkins sometimes making such mistakes as arresting a man whose notebook was found at a crime scene despite it being physically impossible for the man in question to have killed the victim in the manner that he was discovered; after the real culprit was captured, he learns to be more open-minded in future cases. Hopkins refers several cases to Holmes, all within the South-East areas of England and London, including: * " The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez", set in 1894 in
Chatham, Kent Chatham ( ) is a town located within the Medway unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Kent, England. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham. The town developed around Chatham ...
, and * " The Adventure of Black Peter", in Weald set in 1895, and * "
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 13 stories in the cycle collected as '' The Return of Sherlock Holmes'' (1905). It was first published in ''The Str ...
", in 1897 in
Chislehurst Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater L ...
. Teddy Arundell played Inspector Hopkins in eleven 1922 short films in the ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' silent film series by Stoll Pictures. H. Wheeler played Hopkins in one 1922 short film. In the 1946 film '' Dressed to Kill'', Hopkins was portrayed by
Carl Harbord Carl Harbord (26 January 1908 – 18 October 1958) was an English stage, film and television actor. Stage When he was 19, Harbord appeared in the play ''The Happy Husband'', which was presented at the Criterion Theatre in London, England. ...
. In the television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' (1965–1968), the character was played in two 1965 episodes by John Barcroft and one 1968 episode by James Kenney. In the 1952–1969 series of Sherlock Holmes BBC radio adaptations, Inspector Hopkins was played by Michael Turner in the radio drama "Black Peter" (1961), Hugh Dickson in "The Golden Pince-Nez" and "The Abbey Grange" (both in 1962), and Arnold Peters in another radio version of "Black Peter" (1969). Hopkins was voiced by Geoffrey Collins in a 1970
LP record The LP (from "long playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of  rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a ...
audio drama adaptation of "Black Peter". In the Granada Television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'', Inspector Hopkins was played by Paul Williamson in "The Abbey Grange" (1986) and by Nigel Planer in "The Golden Pince-Nez" (1994). Hopkins was played by Andrew Wincott in three 1993 episodes of the 1989–1998 BBC Radio Sherlock Holmes series. In the first episode of Season Two of '' Elementary'', a "DCI Hopkins" calls Holmes to London from New York. A female Inspector named Stella Hopkins appears in the episode of '' Sherlock'' entitled "The Six Thatchers". While uncertain, it can be presumed that the character drew inspiration from Inspector Hopkins.


Athelney Jones

Inspector Athelney Jones is a Scotland Yard detective who appears in '' The Sign of the Four''. He arrests the entire household of Bartholomew Sholto, including his brother and servants, on suspicion of his murder, but is forced to release all but one of them, much to his own embarrassment. According to
Leslie S. Klinger Leslie S. Klinger (born May 2, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American attorney and writer. He is a noted literary editor and annotator of classic genre fiction, including the Sherlock Holmes stories and the novels '' Dracula'', ''Frankenst ...
, several scholars have theorised that Athelney Jones and Peter Jones, the "official police agent" who appears in " The Red-Headed League", are the same person. Peter Jones is similar to Athelney Jones in character, and references the events of ''The Sign of the Four'', remarking of Holmes that "once or twice, as in that business of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly correct than the official force." Athelney Jones was played by Emrys James in the 1987 Granada adaptation, whilst Siôn Probert portrayed him in the 1989 radio adaptation of ''The Sign of the Four'' in the 1989–1998 BBC Radio series. Siôn Probert also played Athelney Jones in two episodes of the BBC radio series '' The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'', "The Singular Inheritance of Miss Gloria Wilson" (2002) and "The Thirteen Watches" (2009). The 2001 Hallmark adaptation featured Michel Perron as Jones. In an episode of the American radio series '' The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' titled "The Mystery of Edelweiss Lodge" (2011), Inspector Peter Jones introduces himself as Athelney Jones's brother.


Inspector MacDonald

Inspector Alec MacDonald is a Scotland Yard inspector who appears in the novel '' The Valley of Fear''. He is from Aberdeen, Scotland. Watson states that MacDonald is "a silent, precise man with a dour nature and a hard Aberdonian accent. Twice already in his career had Holmes helped him to attain success". MacDonald respects Holmes, and Holmes calls him "friend MacDonald" and frequently addresses him as "Mr. Mac". According to Owen Dudley Edwards, Inspector MacDonald may have been inspired by Inspector Mackenzie, a fictional Scottish police detective in
E. W. Hornung Ernest William Hornung (7 June 1866 – 22 March 1921) was an English author and poet known for writing the A. J. Raffles (character), A. J. Raffles series of stories about a gentleman thief in late 19th-century London. Hornung was educa ...
's A. J. Raffles stories, though the two inspectors are different in character. Gordon Jackson played Inspector MacDonald in the television film ''
The Masks of Death ''The Masks of Death'' is a 1984 British mystery television film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes and John Mills as Doctor Watson. Plot In 1913, Sherlock Holmes, virtually in retirement, is persuaded by ...
'' (1984). He was played by Mark Bonnar in the 1997 radio adaptation of ''The Valley of Fear'' in the 1989–1998 BBC Radio series. MacDonald is played by Dennis Bateman and David Natale in the American radio series '' The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'', in which he is a recurring character.


Billy

Billy is Holmes's young page, appearing in the stories '' The Valley of Fear'', " The Problem of Thor Bridge" and " The Mazarin Stone". In the latter, he plays a significant role in helping to arrest the lead villain. He is a more significant character in all three of Doyle's plays featuring Sherlock Holmes, '' Sherlock Holmes; A Drama in Four Acts'', ''The Stonor Case'' and ''The Crown Diamond'', and in the spoof ''The Painful Predicament of Sherlock Holmes'' written by William Gillette. In 1903
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...
began his career by playing Billy on stage in both the four-act play and Gillette's spoof. Billy has appeared in the films ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' (1916), ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' (1922), ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' (1932) and '' The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' (1939). In the episode of the TV series '' Sherlock'' entitled "The Abominable Bride", Billy makes an appearance played by Adam Greaves-Neal, who previously played an original character named
Archie Archie is a masculine given name, a diminutive of Archibald. It may refer to: People Given name or nickname *Archie Alexander (1888–1958), African-American mathematician, engineer and governor of the US Virgin Islands * Archie Blake (mathematici ...
in "The Sign of Three" (though presumably Archie drew some inspiration from Billy).


Shinwell Johnson

Shinwell "Porky" Johnson is a former criminal who acts as informant and occasional muscle for Sherlock Holmes. Watson notes that the nature of his association with Holmes means that Shinwell is only useful in cases that by their nature will not go to court, as he would compromise his connection to Holmes and thus render himself useless as a source if he ever had to testify as part of a case. He appears in " The Adventure of the Illustrious Client" where he protects Kitty from Baron Grüner's henchmen and provides Holmes with insight into how he might go about infiltrating Grüner's house to acquire a certain book. He appears in the '' Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective'' video game series (1991–1993), in which he is a former criminal and innkeeper. He is referred to in the BBC radio adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, specifically in an episode of '' The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'', "The Ferrers Documents" (2009), where he appears to carry on with intimidation business. He is played in the episode by Dan Starkey. The fifth season of the TV show '' Elementary'' introduced an updated version of the character (played by Nelsan Ellis) as both a former patient of Watson's and ex-convict now attempting to go straight. He became part of a complex sting operation to infiltrate and dismantle his old gang, but after Sherlock and Joan decided to trust him even after learning that he killed one of his old associates in the gang, he was killed before he could complete his assignment.


Mary Morstan

Mary Watson,
née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
Morstan, is the wife of Dr. Watson. She is first introduced in '' The Sign of the Four'', where she and Watson tentatively become attracted to each other, but only when the case is resolved is he able to propose to her. She is described as a blonde with pale skin. At the time she hires Holmes she had been making a living as a
governess A governess is a largely obsolete term for a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. A governess often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching. In contrast to a nanny, th ...
. At the end of the story the main treasure is lost - rather to Watson's relief, since if she had been a rich heiress his proposing to her might have been considered the act of a fortune hunter. She does receive six pearls from a
chaplet Chaplet may refer to: * Chaplet (headgear), a wreath or garland for the head * Chaplet (prayer), a string of prayer beads and the associated prayer * Chaplet (metallurgy), a metal form to hold a core in place See also * Wreath (attire) * Ukraini ...
of the Agra Treasure. Her father, Captain Arthur Morstan, was a senior captain of an Indian regiment and later stationed near the
Andaman Islands The Andaman Islands () are an archipelago in the northeastern Indian Ocean about southwest off the coasts of Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Region. Together with the Nicobar Islands to their south, the Andamans serve as a maritime boundary between th ...
. He disappeared in 1878 under mysterious circumstances that would later be proven to be related to the mystery, ''The Sign of the Four''. Her mother died sometime before 1878 and she had no other relatives in England, although she was educated there (in accordance with the received wisdom of the time about European children in
British-ruled India The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himse ...
) until the age of seventeen. Shortly afterward her father disappeared and she found work as a governess. Watson and Mary married in 1889. Mary Morstan is mentioned in passing in " The Adventure of the Crooked Man" and " The Boscombe Valley Mystery", but by the time of " The Adventure of the Norwood Builder" (after Holmes's return) Mary Morstan has died and Watson has returned to his former lodgings in Baker Street. Her cause of death is never mentioned.
Leslie S. Klinger Leslie S. Klinger (born May 2, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American attorney and writer. He is a noted literary editor and annotator of classic genre fiction, including the Sherlock Holmes stories and the novels '' Dracula'', ''Frankenst ...
writes that there appear to be contradictions regarding Mary Morstan between the stories. According to Morstan in ''The Sign of the Four'', which likely takes place in the summer of 1888, her mother died many years ago and she has no relatives in England. However, in " The Five Orange Pips", which is explicitly dated by Watson in September 1887, Watson is already married, and is again in Baker Street because his wife was "on a visit to her mother's". These discrepancies may be errors, though Klinger suggests they indicate that Watson had a wife who preceded Mary Morstan and died before 1888.


Film and television

Mary Morstan has been portrayed on film and television by several actresses. In many cases, her role is expanded in new stories. * Isobel Elsom in the 1913 silent film ''Sherlock Holmes Solves The Sign of the Four''. * Isla Bevan in the 1932 film '' The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case'' featuring Arthur Wontner as Holmes. * Ann Bell in ''The Sign of Four'' episode of the 1965–1968 ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' series featuring Peter Cushing as Holmes and Nigel Stock as Watson. * Gila von Weitershausen in the 1974 French/German film ''Das Zeichen der Vier''. * Samantha Eggar in the 1976 film '' The Seven-Per-Cent Solution''. * Cherie Lunghi in the 1983 film '' The Sign of Four'' featuring Ian Richardson as Holmes. * Yekaterina Zinchenko in the 1983 Soviet film '' The Treasures of Agra'' (''Priklyucheniya Sherloka Kholmsa I doktora Vatsona: Sokrovishcha Angry)''. * Jenny Seagrove in the 1987 television film starring
Jeremy Brett Peter Jeremy William Huggins (3 November 1933 – 12 September 1995), known professionally as Jeremy Brett, was an English actor. He played fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in four Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV series), Granada TV series from 1984 ...
. *
Susannah Harker Susannah Harker (born 26 April 1965) is an English film, television, and theatre actor. She was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in 1990 for her role as Mattie Storin in ''House of Cards''. She played Jane Bennet in the 1995 TV adaptation of ''Pr ...
in the 1991 television adaptation of the play '' The Crucifer of Blood'', starring
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...
as Sherlock Holmes. In the play and the telefilm, Morstan is renamed "Irene St. Claire". *
Sophie Lorain Sophie Lorain (born Sophie-Hélène Lorain; 20 November 1957) is a French-Canadian actress, director and producer. She is known for having played Anne Fortier in the highly rated television series '' Fortier'' that first aired in Quebec, C ...
in the 2001 film '' The Sign of Four'', with Matt Frewer as Sherlock Holmes and Kenneth Welsh as Dr. Watson. In this version, Mary Morstan becomes engaged to Thaddeus Sholto rather than Dr. Watson. * Kelly Reilly in Guy Ritchie's 2009 film ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'', starring
Robert Downey, Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His career has been characterized by critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, before a resurgence of ...
as Sherlock Holmes and
Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He received a British Academy Film Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2007, he received an Honorary Césa ...
as Dr. Watson. In the film, Mary is first introduced to Holmes as Watson's fiancée rather than as a client. Reilly reprises the role, marrying Watson in the 2011 film '' Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows''. It is unknown whether she will return in the 3rd film. * Lexi Wolfe in the 2012–2015 web series ''The Mary Morstan Mysteries.'' Lexi would also play the character (Mrs. Watson) in one episode of the show's parent series
No Place Like Holmes
* Freda Foh Shen in few episodes of TV adaptation Elementary (2012–2019). In this case, Mary Watson is Watson's mother. * Amanda Abbington in the third season of '' Sherlock''. She is first introduced in " The Empty Hearse" (2014) and later marries John Watson. (See Mary (Morstan) Watson on the series' character list.) *
Anna Ishibashi is a Japanese actress and model. Career Ishibashi starred in Ryuichi Hiroki's ''Your Friend'' in 2008. She was given a Best New Talent award at the 2008 Yokohama Film Festival. She appeared in Koji Maeda's ''Cannonball Wedlock'' in 2011. Film ...
voices Mary Morstan, a pupil of Archer House in the NHK puppetry television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
''. In the show, her elder brother Arthur is attacked by someone and she requests Holmes to find the truth behind it. Meanwhile, Watson falls in love with her at first sight and tries to show her his braveness. But there is a rival called Jonathan Small who sent her a picture postcard every week before her entrance into
Beeton School is a fictional coeducational boarding school in which the NHK puppetry Sherlock Holmes is set. It is named after Beeton's Christmas Annual and Eton College. Summary The school setting is the first case in the screening history of the Seri ...
and writes a song "You Are My Treasure" for her. Small joins a chorus band formed by Arthur and the Sholto twins but is betrayed by Arthur who changes the title to "Agra Treasure" and makes it his own. * Nao Tōyama voices Mary Morstan in the original anime television series '' Case File nº221: Kabukicho'' (2019–2020).


Radio and stage

* In a radio dramatisation of ''The Sign of the Four'' that was broadcast on WGY in 1922, Viola Karwowska played Mary Morstan. * She was played by Norma Varden in "Colonel Warburton's Madness" (1945) in the radio series '' The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes''. * Mary Morstan was played by
Barbara Mitchell Barbara Mitchell (4 October 1929 – 9 December 1977, Kingston Upon Thames) was an English actress who became a familiar face on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her work in many classic sitcoms of the period. Care ...
in 1959 serial ''The Sign of Four'' which aired on the BBC Light Programme. * In the 1952–1969 radio series, Elizabeth Morgan played Mary Morstan in the 1963
BBC Home Service The BBC Home Service was a national and regional radio station that broadcast from 1939 until 1967, when it was replaced by BBC Radio 4. History 1922–1939: Interwar period Between the early 1920s and the outbreak of World War II, the BBC ...
radio drama "The Sign of the Four". * In the play '' The Crucifer of Blood'' (1978), which is adapted from ''The Sign of the Four'', Mary Morstan is renamed, Irene St. Claire. Glenn Close played the character in the original 1978 Broadway cast of the play; Susan Hampshire played her in the original 1979 London cast. * In the 1981 BBC Radio dramatisation of the novel ''
Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula ''Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula'' or ''The Adventures of the Sanguinary Count'') is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel by Loren D. Estleman, originally published in 1978. The novel is an account of Holmes' adventure facing off against Bram Stoker's ...
'', the character was played by Theresa Streatfeild. * In the BBC Radio 4 '' Sherlock Holmes'' series, she was played by Moir Leslie in the two-part serial ''The Sign of the Four'' (1989), Elizabeth Mansfield in "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" (1990), and Jillie Meers in "The Empty House" (1993). * In Sherlock Holmes's radio dramas on ''
Imagination Theatre ''Imagination Theatre'' is an American syndicated radio drama program airing on FM and AM radio stations across the United States. It features modern radio dramas. The program first aired in 1996. Originally produced by Jim French Productions, t ...
'', she has been portrayed by Mary Anne Dorward, Ellen McLain, and Mary Kae Irvin. The character's first appearance was in a 1998 episode of ''The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'', "The Adventure of the Seven Shares" (1998).


Langdale Pike

Langdale Pike is a celebrated gossipmonger whose columns are published in numerous magazines and newspapers (referred to as the "garbage papers" by Watson). He's introduced in "
The Adventure of the Three Gables "The Adventure of the Three Gables" is one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle, collected as one of 12 in ''The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes''. It was first published in ''The Strand Magazine'' in 1926 ...
" in which he helps Holmes learn the name of the woman who led Douglas Maberley to his demise, although he does not actually appear in the story itself and is only referred to by Watson who describes Pike as "strange" and "languid" and states that all of Pike's waking hours are spent "in the bow window of a St. James's Street club". His character has however been expanded on or fleshed out elsewhere. In William S. Baring-Gould's biography of Sherlock Holmes, '' Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street'' (1962), it is claimed that Pike is a college acquaintance of Holmes who encourages a young Holmes to try his hand at acting. Here his real name is given as 'Lord Peter'. Langdale Pike also appears in the '' Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective'' video game series (1991–1993). In Peter Ling's 1994 radio play of "The Three Gables" for the 1989–1998 BBC Radio series, Pike's real name is said to be Clarence Gable. Here he is also an old school-friend of Holmes's and is nervous of strangers and reluctant to leave his club for this reason. In both the 1994 BBC radio play and the 2007 ''
Imagination Theatre ''Imagination Theatre'' is an American syndicated radio drama program airing on FM and AM radio stations across the United States. It features modern radio dramas. The program first aired in 1996. Originally produced by Jim French Productions, t ...
'' radio adaptation of the story, "Langdale Pike" is said to be a pen name derived from the Langdale Pikes. The ''Imagination Theatre'' version implies his real name is Lord Peter, as in Baring-Gould's book. In the Granada television adaptation starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes, Pike (played by Peter Wyngarde) is apparently an old university friend of Holmes's. Here he claims to be the benevolent counterpart of Charles Augustus Milverton (the eponymous blackmailer of ''The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton''), who suppresses more information than he exposes. Though Watson is rather scathing about Pike, Holmes is more sympathetic towards him, suggesting that Pike is isolated, much like Holmes himself. In the American television series '' Elementary,'' Pike appears in the first episode of the second season as one of Holmes' sources in London; details are not seen as Pike moves quickly when delivering a package to Watson. "Langdale" is used as a British Intelligence codename in the first episode of the fourth series of '' Sherlock'', along with "Porlock," the name of another Holmes informer in the original stories. In the NHK puppetry television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' (2014–2015), Pike is a pupil of
Beeton School is a fictional coeducational boarding school in which the NHK puppetry Sherlock Holmes is set. It is named after Beeton's Christmas Annual and Eton College. Summary The school setting is the first case in the screening history of the Seri ...
and assists Holmes in his investigation. He also works as informant and is fast at his job but tight with money. Besides he sells photographs of girls to male pupils. Tomokazu Seki voices him.


Lysander Stark

"Colonel Lysander Stark" is the alias of a tall gaunt German National irst name Fritzwho is the head of a counterfeiting gang in England; his two accomplices are a German woman named Elsie and a morose fat Englishman under the name of "Dr Beecher". Their base of operations was the town of Eyford near Reading, Berkshire, using a water powered hydraulic press to compress the metal into half-crowns. In 1889 Stark was compelled to hire a hydraulic engineer named Victor Hatherley when the press began to malfunction. When Hatherley realized that the press was not used to compress fuller's earth but metal, Stark locked him within the machine. The woman freed Hatherley; Stark attacked Hatherley with a cleaver, cutting off the engineers thumb when Hatherley was escaping from a second story window. Hatherley just managed to bind the wound before fainting from loss of blood; Elsie and "Beecher" carried the unconscious man to a rose hedge. "Stark" was prevented from killing Hatherley because Hatherley's lamp set the wooden walls of the press and their house on fire. Stark and his accomplices fled to Reading with several boxes of counterfeit coins; as both Sherlock Holmes and Scotland Yard cannot find them in England, presumably the gang has fled to Germany. Hatherley's story helps Holmes solve the disappearance of another hydraulic engineer in 1888. '' The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb''


Toby

Toby is a dog who is used by Sherlock Holmes. He appears in '' The Sign of the Four'' and is described by Watson as an "ugly long haired, lop-eared creature, half spaniel and half lurcher, brown and white in colour, with a very clumsy waddling gait." Though used by Holmes, the dog belongs to Mr. Sherman who keeps a menagerie of creatures at No. 3 Pinchin Lane in
Lambeth Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, in the London Borough of Lambeth, historically in the County of Surrey. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The population of the London Borough of Lambeth was 303,086 in 2011. The area expe ...
, in London. Toby lives at No. 7 within his house. Holmes states he would "rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force in London" and requests the dog by name. Holmes uses a different tracking dog while in Cambridge in " The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter". Toby also featured in the 1978 pastische novel '' Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula; or, The Adventures of the Sanguinary Count'' by
Loren D. Estleman Loren D. Estleman (born September 15, 1952, in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He is known for a series of crime novels featuring the investigator Amos Walker. Life and work Estleman graduated fro ...
, when Watson and Holmes called on Toby to track Count Dracula after finding him in a meat-packing district – Dracula's carriage having rolled through blood and old entrails – allowing the two to track Dracula to Watson's house in time to learn that he has abducted Mary Watson. In the Holmes-esque '' The Great Mouse Detective'' (1986), Toby is a Basset Hound and a permanent resident of 221b Baker Street. He is frequently used by Basil, the eponymous protagonist, as a means of transport and to pick up trails. Toby appears in the video game '' The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel'' (1992) and its sequel '' The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Rose Tattoo'' (1996). In the video game '' The Testament of Sherlock Holmes'' (2012) and some of the other games in the ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' video game series, a Basset Hound version of Toby is briefly controlled by the player. In the NHK puppetry television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
'' (2014–2015), Toby is kept by Sherman in a
shed A shed is typically a simple, single-story roofed structure that is used for hobbies, or as a workshop in a back garden or on an allotment. Sheds vary considerably in their size and complexity of construction, from simple open-sided ones de ...
in
Beeton School is a fictional coeducational boarding school in which the NHK puppetry Sherlock Holmes is set. It is named after Beeton's Christmas Annual and Eton College. Summary The school setting is the first case in the screening history of the Seri ...
and assists Holmes in his investigation. In the series, Sherman is a female pupil who loves animals and communicates with them, unlike Mr. Sherman in '' The Sign of the Four''. Though being a pupil of Baker House, she does not live in the house, but in the shed with animals. In the BBC series '' Sherlock'', in the first episode of the fourth season titled " The Six Thatchers", Sherlock Holmes requires the services of a bloodhound named Toby.


Wiggins

Wiggins is a street urchin in London and head of the Baker Street Irregulars. He has no first name in the stories. He appears in '' A Study in Scarlet'' (1887) and '' The Sign of the Four'' (1890). Wiggins was voiced on BBC radio by Paul Taylor in the 1959 serial ''The Sign of Four''. In the 1952–1969 radio series, Wiggins was played by David Valla in the 1962 dramatisation of "A Study in Scarlet", and by Glyn Dearman in "The Sign of the Four" (1963). In the 1965 musical ''
Baker Street Baker Street is a street in the Marylebone district of the City of Westminster in London. It is named after builder William Baker, who laid out the street in the 18th century. The street is most famous for its connection to the fictional detec ...
'', Wiggins was portrayed by Teddy Green. Wiggins was played by Tony McLaren in the 1968 episodes "The Study in Scarlet" and "The Sign of the Four" of the television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
''. The film '' The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes'' (1970), directed by Billy Wilder, features a character called Wiggins (played by Graham Armitage) who is a footman at the
Diogenes Club The Diogenes Club is a fictional gentlemen's club created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and featured in several Sherlock Holmes stories, such as 1893's " The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter". It seems to have been named after Diogenes the Cynic ...
. He delivers a note to Mycroft Holmes (played by
Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...
) and receives instructions concerning various items. Wiggins was played by Jay Simpson in the 1983 television series '' The Baker Street Boys''. Courtney Roper-Knight portrayed Wiggins in the 1987 television film "The Sign of Four", part of the Granada Television series ''
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
''. In the 1988 film '' Without a Clue'', Wiggins was played by Matthew Savage. The 1989–1991 animated television series '' Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century'' features a version of the character also named Wiggins, voiced by Viv Leacock. Wiggins appears in the video game '' The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel'' (1992) and was played by Corey Miller in the version of the game released in 1994. Wiggins returns in the sequel '' The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Rose Tattoo'' (1996), voiced by Paul Vincent Black. The character, credited as "Bill Wiggins", also appears in the series three finale of '' Sherlock'' portrayed by Tom Brooke as a drug user who actually demonstrates the beginning of Sherlock's deductive skills, and later appoints himself a "pupil" of Sherlock's. In the video game '' Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments'' (2014), Wiggins plays a significant role in the last case of the game.


Non-canonical

Some fictional characters associated with Sherlock Holmes are not part of the Conan Doyle canon and were created by other writers.


Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes is the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. She appears in the book series ''
The Enola Holmes Mysteries ''The Enola Holmes Mysteries'' is a young adult fiction series of detective novels by American author Nancy Springer, starring Enola Holmes as the 14-year-old sister of an already famous Sherlock Holmes, twenty years her senior. There are seven ...
'' by Nancy Springer as well as the American films '' Enola Holmes'' and '' Enola Holmes 2'' where she is portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown. Enola is an independent and rebellious girl who likes to wear trousers while riding her bike. She becomes a "perditorian," or finder of lost things, when her mother runs away and her brother Mycroft tries to send her to boarding school. Using her natural cunning which she and Sherlock inherited from their mother, she creates multiple disguises on her quest to be reunited with her mother and evade her brothers.


Eurus Holmes

It is hinted that there is a third Holmes sibling in the third-series episode " His Last Vow" of the BBC '' Sherlock'' series. In the second episode of the fourth series, " The Lying Detective", it is confirmed that Mycroft and Sherlock in fact have a sister named Eurus. She is extremely intelligent but unfeeling and is incarcerated in a maximum security psychiatric facility. She is the main antagonist in the last episode of the fourth series, " The Final Problem".


Morland Holmes

Morland Holmes is the influential businessman and father of Sherlock and Mycroft, interpreted by John Noble in the TV adaptation '' Elementary''. According to Sherlock, Morland Holmes doesn't care about his sons, and only does what he does out of a sense of familial obligations. Sherlock says he is a serial absentee, and that he has been so since Sherlock was a boy. He sent Sherlock to boarding school when he was eight years old.


Raffles Holmes

Raffles Holmes, the son of
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
, is a fictional character in the 1906 collection of short stories ''Raffles Holmes and Company'' by John Kendrick Bangs. He is described as the son of
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
by Marjorie Raffles, the daughter of gentleman thief
A.J. Raffles Arthur J. Raffles (usually called A. J. Raffles) is a fictional character created in 1898 by E. W. Hornung, brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, an inversion of Holmeshe is a "gentlem ...
. Wold Newton family theorist Win Scott Eckert devised an explanation in his ''Original Wold Newton Universe Crossover Chronology'' to reconcile the existence of Raffles Holmes with canonical information about Sherlock Holmes and A.J. Raffles, which fellow Wold Newton speculator Brad Mengel incorporated into his essay "Watching the Detectives." According to the theory, Holmes married Marjorie in 1883, and she died giving birth to Raffles later that year. Since Raffles and Holmes are contemporaries, it has been suggested that Marjorie was actually Raffles' sister. Eckert further proposed in his ''Crossover Chronology'' that (1) Raffles Holmes was the same character as the "lovely, lost son" of Sherlock Holmes referred to in Laurie R. King's Mary Russell novels, and (2) Raffles Holmes was the father of Creighton Holmes, who is featured in the collection of short stories ''The Adventures of Creighton Holmes'' by Ned Hubbell. Mengel's online essay was revised for publication in the Eckert-edited ''Myths for the Modern Age: Philip José Farmer's Wold Newton Universe'' ( MonkeyBrain Books, 2005), a collection of Wold Newton essays by Farmer and several other "post-Farmerian" contributors, authorised by Farmer as an extension of his Wold Newton mythos. He does not appear or is ever mentioned in any of the original stories of Sherlock Holmes and is not a creation of Doyle.


Sherrinford Holmes

Sherrinford Holmes is a proposed elder brother of
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...
and Mycroft Holmes. His name is taken from early notes as one of those considered by
Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Ho ...
for his detective hero before settling on "Sherlock Holmes". The name is used of Holmes by Stamford in the 1954 radio show 'Dr Watson Meets Sherlock Holmes' as he attempts to remember Holmes' first name. He was first proposed by William S. Baring-Gould who wrote in his fictional biography '' Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street'' (1962) that Sherrinford was the eldest brother of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes once stated that his family were country squires, which means that the eldest brother would have to stay to manage the estate. If Mycroft were the eldest, he could not play the role he does in four stories of the Sherlock Holmes canon, so Sherrinford frees them both. This position is strengthened by the fact that Mycroft's general position as a senior civil servant was a common choice among the younger sons of the gentry. The character (as "Sherringford") appears along with his brothers in the Virgin New Adventures
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...
novel '' All-Consuming Fire'' by Andy Lane, where he is revealed to be the member of a cult worshiping an alien telepathic slug that is mutating him and his followers into an insect-like form; the novel culminates with Holmes being forced to shoot his brother to save Watson. He also appears, accused of a murder that Sherlock must find him innocent of, in the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game adventure ''The Yorkshire Horrors''. Sherrinford also appears in the Italian comic series ''Storie da Altrove'' (a spin-off of '' Martin Mystère'') as the eldest brother, born nine years before him, of Sherlock himself.


Sigerson Holmes

The film '' The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother'' has as its protagonist Sigerson Holmes who Sherlock (a minor character) identifies as a brother of himself and Mycroft. The name "Sigerson" is an alias mentioned in passing in a Conan Doyle story as an alias Sherlock used while posing as an explorer.


Auguste Lupa

Auguste Lupa is the son of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler. He appears in two
pastiche A pastiche is a work of visual art, literature, theatre, music, or architecture that imitates the style or character of the work of one or more other artists. Unlike parody, pastiche pays homage to the work it imitates, rather than mocking it ...
novels by author
John Lescroart John Lescroart (; born January 14, 1948) is a ''New York Times'' bestselling author known for his series of legal and crime thriller novels featuring the characters Dismas Hardy, Abe Glitsky, and Wyatt Hunt. His novels have sold more than 10 mi ...
, ''Son of Holmes'' (1986) and ''Rasputin's Revenge'' (1987). Lupa, a secret agent during the First World War, is strongly implied to be the younger version of fictional detective Nero Wolfe in the mystery series by Rex Stout.


Mary Russell

Mary Russell is a fictional character in a book series by
Laurie R. King Laurie R. King (born September 19, 1952) is an American author best known for her detective fiction. Life and career Born in Oakland, California, King earned a degree in comparative religion from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1977 ...
, focusing on the adventures of Russell and her mentor and, later, husband, an aging Sherlock Holmes.


Amelia Watson

The adventures of Amelia Watson, the second wife of Dr. John Watson, are chronicled in a series of short stories and novels by
Michael Mallory Michael Mallory (born 1955) is a writer on the subjects of animation and post-war pop culture, and the author of the books ''X-Men: The Characters and Their Universe'', ''Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror'' ''The Science Fictio ...
. The character is based upon the enigmatic reference to Watson having left Holmes in 1902 for a wife, a reference that appears in the canonical story '' The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier'', although the woman in the story is never named or identified nor ever mentioned again in the canon.


Joanna Blalock

Joanna Blalock is a fictional character in a book series by Leonard Goldberg, in which Joanna is reputed (and later confirmed) to be the daughter of Sherlock Holmes. Irene Adler died giving birth to her in the early 1890s, and Holmes gave her up for adoption. By the outbreak of World War I she is a widowed nurse with a young son, but has the same gift for deductive reasoning as her father, and joins Dr. John Watson, Jr. in a series of mystery adventures, which Dr. Watson Sr. narrates. She and John Jr. marry at the end of the first story. Both she and her husband believe Holmes to be deceased at this time, though canon stories imply that he is working undercover for Britain's war efforts. It is not confirmed whether Dr. Watson, Sr. knows this.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sherlock Holmes minor characters characters Lists of minor fictional characters