19. Doyle placed some of his own background in Dr. Watson as well
Arthur Conan Doyle was trained as a physician, and his early career was in medicine. He also served with the army in a medical capacity. As noted, he was a devoted sportsman. Several of these characteristics he presented in Dr. Watson. When Watson first appears in A Study in Scarlet he is described as “thin as a lath”, as would be expected of someone recently recovered from a long illness. Watson suffered a wound serving with the British Army in Afghanistan, and developed a fever during his recovery. In later texts, he takes on a hale, robust appearance.
Dr. Watson is described as a former athlete, having played rugby for Blackheath. As the stories wind on chronologically his appearance changes, as should be expected, but he remains throughout in good health and spirits. In film treatments of the stories Watson frequently suffers from being portrayed as almost a buffoon, though in Doyle’s writings he remains steadfast, loyal, and capable. Unlike Holmes, who fights ennui with drugs, Watson had a preference for gambling on horses, another trait he shared with his creator.