That is actually a common misconception. While H.H. Holmes was a notorious serial killer who operated in the late 19th century, there is no evidence that he directly inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his creation of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, Sherlock Holmes was originally conceived as a character for a novel that had nothing to do with Holmes' real-life counterpart. While it is possible that some elements of H.H. Holmes' story influenced certain aspects of the Sherlock Holmes canon, it is important to recognize that they are two separate entities with different histories and contexts.
