Adrian Anderson

Adrian Malcolm Conan Doyle, the youngest son of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was born in 1910 and passed away in 1970. He was known for his adventurous pursuits, including racing cars, big-game hunting, and exploration. Biographers have described him as a "spendthrift playboy" who, along with his brother Denis, utilized the family estate for financial gain. Following his mother's death in 1940, Adrian became his father's literary executor and established the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Foundation in Switzerland in 1965. His sister, Jean, succeeded him in this role after his passing.

Adrian Conan Doyle contributed to the Sherlock Holmes canon by writing new stories that aimed to complete tales only referenced in his father's original works. These stories, co-authored with John Dickson Carr on some occasions, were published in 1952 and 1953, and later collected in "The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes" in 1954. He was also involved in the controversial discovery and publication of a supposed unpublished Sherlock Holmes story, later revealed to be authored by Arthur Whitaker, not Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adrian fiercely defended his father's reputation, even threatening legal action and publishing his own book, "The True Conan Doyle," in response to biographical works he deemed inaccurate.

Adrian Conan Doyle took on the task of expanding the Sherlock Holmes universe by writing new stories. His creative endeavor focused on developing narratives for Sherlock Holmes adventures that were merely mentioned or alluded to within his father's existing stories but never fully written. He collaborated with fellow author John Dickson Carr on some of these tales. These newly penned stories were produced in the early 1950s and subsequently compiled into a hardcover collection titled "The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes," released in 1954. The collection has seen reissues, and the concept of completing referenced but unwritten Holmes tales has inspired other authors.

A significant event in Adrian Conan Doyle's involvement with his father's work was the announcement in 1942 of his discovery of an unpublished Sherlock Holmes manuscript. Initially presented as an authentic find in Sir Arthur's handwriting, later reports suggested it was typewritten and its authorship questioned by family members and experts like Vincent Starrett. The story, eventually published as "The Case of the Man who was Wanted" and later "The Adventure of the Sheffield Banker," was ultimately attributed to an architect named Arthur Whitaker. Adrian's strong reaction to this claim, including legal threats, highlights his fierce protectiveness of his father's literary legacy. He also authored "The True Conan Doyle" to present his perspective on his father's life and work.

Following the death of his mother, Jean, Lady Doyle, in 1940, Adrian assumed the role of his father's literary executor. This position placed him in charge of managing and safeguarding Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's literary estate. In 1965, he founded the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Foundation in Switzerland, an organization likely established to preserve and promote his father's literary heritage. His stewardship of the estate continued until his death in 1970, after which his sister, Jean Conan Doyle, took over the responsibilities of literary executrix.