Dr Joseph Bell - real life Sherlock Holmes

Dr Joseph Bell was known for his skills in observation. He would often pick a stranger, and by observing him, deduce his occupation and recent activities. He was considered a pioneer in forensic science.

Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Bell worked together at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 1877. It was during this time that Conan Doyle became a student and avid fan of Dr Bell, often irritating his mentor by asking too many questions.

Conan Doyle would later say:

"It was Joseph Bell who first showed me how much could be deduced from a single glance at a man's face. He would pick up a newspaper and say, 'This man was in Dublin yesterday,' or 'This man is going to Paris tomorrow.'"

Dr Bell's skills were so impressive that Conan Doyle loosely based his character Sherlock Holmes on him. The two men shared many similarities, including their passion for using science to solve crimes. And although Dr Bell never worked on solving crimes on his own like Holmes, he did assist police with their investigations on several occasions.

Despite being the inspiration for one of the world's most famous detectives, Dr Bell never achieved the same level of fame as Conan Doyle. He continued to work as a surgeon until his death in 1911. The popularity of Sherlock Holmes has definitely helped achieve what Bell wanted - to use forensics and science in crime solving, as it is a standard part of any investigation nowadays.