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Dr. Watson

Dr. Watson \| Sherlockian Quotes \| Other Main Characters

Dr. Watson | Sherlockian Quotes | Other Main Characters

Essential Facts:

What we need to know about Dr. Watson

Born: August 7, 1862

Died: 1939

Birthplace: Unknown

Best known as: Sherlock Holmes' assistant.

Quote by Dr. Watson:

"Has anything escaped me? I trust that there is nothing of consequence which I have overlooked?"

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" In 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the Army."

- Dr. Watson describing his medical career

Detailed Biography

What every fan should know

Dr. John Hamish Watson is the loyal and trusted friend, companion and chronicler of Sherlock Holmes, a late19th-century fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Early Years

His father was Henry Watson and it is thought that his mother passed away when he was quite young.His father, elder brother ( Henry Jr) and he are thought to have gone to Australia after his mother's death and he was therefore familiar with the goldfields there as mentioned in 'The Sign of Four'.

After leaving school he attended the University of London Medical School to undertake a medical degree. As part of his training he worked at St Batholomew's Hospital in London as a staff surgeon and had a dresser called Stamford. From 'A Study in Scarlet : " In 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the Army."

Army Career

Watson was at first attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers who were stationed in India . He was to be an assistant surgeon. However, before he could join his regiment the second Afghan War had started. When he arrived at Bombay (Mumbai) his regiment were already far into enemy territory where he could not follow. As a result he was attached to the Sixty-Sixth Foot (Berkshires).

He took part in the Battle of Maiwand on July 27 1880 during which he was wounded by a 'Jezail Bullet' , Jezail being a type of musket . He would have been captured by the enemy but for the courageous actions of his orderly, Murray. He recovered from his wound but contracted enteric fever and was gravely ill. He was eventually sent home by the Army Medical Board and traveled back to England on the troop ship Orontes.

Meeting Sherlock Holmes

Back in England, Watson was staying in a private hotel in the Strand, London but his army pension of eleven shillings and sixpence a day did not stretch as far as he would like and by January 1881 he decided to look for cheaper lodgings. He met Stamford once again by accident in the Criterion Bar who told him of someone looking to share the cost of a place in Baker Street, a certain Mr Sherlock Holmes as recounted in 'A Study in Scarlet'.

Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson in the 1939 film "The Hound of the Baskervilles"

Holmes and Watson

Watson first started to become involved in the singular occupation of his fellow tenant in March 1881 with the investigation of the murder of Enoch Drebber which Watson was to relate in 'A Study in Scarlet'. From then on Dr. Watson continued to be associated with the Great Detective, even finding his second wife through his association with Holmes, meeting the future Mrs Watson, Mary Morstan in July 1888 during the adventure of 'The Sign of Four'.

Description and Appearance

After Watson returns from Afghanistan, he is described to be "as thin as a lath and as brown as a nut." His main description is given in "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton": "... a middle-sized, strongly built man--square jaw, thick neck, moustache ...". In The Hound of the Baskervilles, he says that he is "reckoned fleet of foot". In the story "His Last Bow", he is described as "thickset".

Cedric(006)	Latest page update: made by Cedric(006) , Monday, 7:51 PM EST (about this update About This Update Edited by Cedric(006) view changes - complete history)
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Anonymous

THANKyou

Oct 13 2009, 1:58 PM EDT by chrisco97

Thread started: Oct 13 2009, 1:13 PM EDT Watch

this helped me on my English prodject, Thanks

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Anonymous

watson

Apr 29 2009, 12:07 AM EDT by Anonymous

Thread started: Apr 29 2009, 12:07 AM EDT Watch

cool