Sir Arthur Conan Doyle based his legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes, on a real person: Dr. Joseph Bell, a professor at the University of Edinburgh. Doyle worked as a clerk for Bell and was fascinated by his teacher’s ability to observe a patient and deduce their occupation, recent travels, and habits before they even spoke. Bell’s use of 'deductive reasoning' (actually abductive reasoning) became the hallmark of the Holmes character. Doyle once wrote to Bell, 'It is most certainly to you that I owe Sherlock Holmes.' While Holmes became an international icon, Doyle eventually grew tired of the character, even attempting to kill him off in 'The Final Problem' so he could focus on historical novels. Public outcry was so great, with people wearing black armbands in mourning, that Doyle was eventually forced to bring Holmes back to life.