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Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a Human author. Living in 19th century England, he wrote the famous Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories. He created the character of Professor James Moriarty as a worthy adversary of Holmes. (TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data", "Ship In A Bottle")

Captain Spock once referenced Doyle, such that – "an ancestor of mine maintained, that if 'you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'" (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

It was unclear if Spock was indicating that he was an actual descendant of Doyle, or merely that Doyle, like Spock's mother's descent, was like Spock, also Human.

Data was very much interested in the works of Arthur Conan Doyle. Captain Picard introduced him to the author, a fact which the android related in a 2367 personal log letter to Bruce Maddox (TNG: "Data's Day")

In 2369, the hologram of James Moriarty described Conan Doyle as an Englishman. (TNG: "Ship In A Bottle")

Conan Doyle was in fact Scottish.

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Background information[]

A. Conan Doyle was a Scottish author who, initially, was the uncredited creator of the Sherlock Holmes characters that first appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation second season episode "Elementary, Dear Data".

Although the setting had proven popular among the staff, further use of the character on The Next Generation was prevented by a protracted legal dispute between Paramount and the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle. "Ship In A Bottle" came about when Jeri Taylor decided to re-investigate the possibility, only to find that the whole situation was a misunderstanding. The Conan Doyle estate had been irritated at Paramount because of the film Young Sherlock Holmes. However, by the time this episode was conceived, they were willing to license the character for what Taylor described as a "very reasonable license fee". Actor Brent Spiner was particularly thrilled, as he had wanted to play Holmes again. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 231); Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 269)

Conan Doyle credits

The Doyles' credits

Doyle was then, rightfully, credited in the end credits of the TNG Season 6 episode "Ship in a Bottle", following the arrangement made in association with his daughter, Dame Jean Conan Doyle.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country director and screenplay writer Nicholas Meyer had previously written the screenplay for The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, based on his novel.

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