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Born Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, May 22, 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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When Doyle was 9 some wealthier members of his family paid for him to attend Jesuit schools in England. He first spent two years at Hodder Place, Stonyhurst* (1868-1870). Then five years at Stonyhurst College (1870-1875). He was incredibly unhappy there. He was often bullied and the school had brutal corporal punishment policies. Doyle did find some happiness in telling stories to the younger students. From 1875 to 1876 Doyle attended Stella Matutina, another Jesuit school, in Feldkirch, Austria
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Doyle attended Med School at the University of Edinburgh. There he studied under Dr. Joesph Bell, whose observation skills became the inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes. While at University of Edinburgh, Doyle began to write his first stories. At University he became very interested in Spiritualism.
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"The Mystery of Sasassa Valley" was Doyle's first published piece. It was published September 6th, 1879, in Chamber's Edinburgh Journal.
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Doyle's second story, "The American Tale," was published in "London Society."
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During his third year at med school, Doyle was employed on the "Hope of Peterhead," a whaling ship from Greenland sailing to the Arctic Circle, as a doctor. This adventure inspired his story "Captain of the Pole Star."
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In 1881 Doyle took his first paid position as a doctor aboard the Mayumba, a steamship sailing from Liverpool to Africa.
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Doyle received his Bachelor of Medicine in 1881. By then he had completely renounced his Roman Catholic faith.
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In 1882, Doyle and a classmate set up a medical practice in Plymouth. However their relationship fell apart and Doyle began an independent practice in Portsmouth.
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From 1882 to 1891 Doyle ran a private practice in Portsmouth. He gave up his private practice in favor of writing.
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In 1885, Doyle married Louisa (or Louise) "Toulie" Hawkins they had two children, a boy and a girl.
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The first Sherlock Holmes story, "A Study in Scarlet", is published in Beeton's Christmas Annual. Doyle started writing the story in 1886 under the title "A Tangled Skein".
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Doyle's claim to fame is his series of stories about Sherlock Holmes. Doyle wrote sixty stories about the consulting detective.
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Doyle's first child is born, her name is Mary Louise.
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Micah Clarke is published.
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The Sign of Four is published.
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Arthur Allyne Kingsley is born.
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In 1893, Doyle's wife was diagnosed with Tuberculosis.
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Doyle meets Jean Leckie.
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Doyle serves in the Boer War.
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"The Hound of the Baskervilles" is published in The Strand magazine. "The Hound of the Baskervilles" marked the return of Sherlock Holmes, although the story is set before "The Adventure of the Final Problem".
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Doyle killed of Holmes in "The Final Problem", which was published 1893, in order to focus on his historical novels. However due to pressure from fans, in 1901 he brought back Holmes in "The Hound of the Baskervilles".
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“The War in South Africa: Its Causes and Conduct” is published. This piece led to his being knighted by King Edward VII.
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Doyle begins his investigation into the George Edalji case.
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Doyle met Jean Leckie in 1897, they quickly fell in love. However they maintained a platonic relationship until after his first wife died. They married a year later. They had three kids together two boys and a girl.
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Denis Percy Stewart is born.
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Doyle becomes involved in the Oscar Slater case.
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Adrian Malcom is born.
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Doyle and his wife, Jean, particpate in the Prince Henry Tour.
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Lena Jean Annette is born.
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"The Valley of Fear" is published as a book.
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Doyle publishes his beliefs in Spiritualism in the Light magazine. His declaration of his beliefs severely damaged his reputation.
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Doyle's son, Kingsley, and his brother, Innes, pass away.
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Doyle wrote about his belief in the authenticity of the Cottingley fairies in The Strand magazine.
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Jean Conan Doyle "discovers" she has the ability to do automatic writing. Automatic writing is when a writer claims that writing is from the subconscious, and/or an external or spiritual source.
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Jean Conan Doyle "attempts" to contact Houdini's mother. However the writing is in English, a language his mother never spoke, and makes no mention of the fact it was his mother's birthday. These discrepancies damaged Doyle and Houdini's friendship.
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"The Lost World" is made into a movie. This is first of many adaptations of Doyle's works.
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Doyle goes one five-month long tour of South Africa.
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Doyle died on July 7th, 1930 of a heart attack. He is buried in the rose garden in Windlesham.