The South African War field doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle is born

Date: 22 May 1859
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The South African War field doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle is born

The author of Sherlock Holmes and field doctor in the South African War of 1899-1902, Arthur Conan Doyle, was born at Picardy Place, Edinburgh in 1859. The son of Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Foley-Doyle, he studied medicine at Edinburgh University where he graduated as a doctor in 1885. After graduation Doyle practiced medicine at Southsea near Portsmouth in Hampshire until 1891. During the South African War, Doyle served as a doctor in a field hospital. It is during this period that he wrote The Great Boer War. In 1902 Doyle returned to England. On 7 July 1930 Doyle died of heart disease.

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How we know this

01Literature Collection, ‘Arthur Conan Doyle - Biography & Works’, from Literature Collection, [online], Available at www.literaturecollection.com [Accessed: 24 April 2012]
02Boddy-Evans A. ‘This Day in African History: 22 May’, from About.com African History, [online], Available at www.africanhistory.about.com [Accessed: 24 April 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, May 17). The South African War field doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0083383

South African History Online (2012) 'The South African War field doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle is born', South African History Online, 17 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0083383 (Accessed: 25 July 2026).

South African History Online, The South African War field doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0083383, (accessed 25 July 2026).

"The South African War field doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle is born." South African History Online, 17 May 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0083383. Accessed 25 July 2026.

South African History Online. "The South African War field doctor, Arthur Conan Doyle is born." South African History Online. May 17, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0083383.