Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes was a fictional character in a series of novel s and short stories written in the late 19th century and early 20th century by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle . Holmes was an English detective who used his genius , along with comprehensive observation of his surroundings , deductive reasoning and logic , to solve crimes , serving as a " consulting detective " – an expert who is brought into cases that have proven too difficult for other investigators . He was accompanied on his missions by his close friend , the physician Dr . John H . Watson , who served as the narrator of the Holmes ' stories . Holmes ' nemesis was Professor James Moriarty . Data was fond of Holmes and his ability to solve mysteries by careful examination of the available evidence . Data found the great detective ' s methodology of deductive reasoning to be quite useful in performing his duties . ( ) History . One night in 2143 , Commander Jonathan Archer referenced Sherlock Holmes after correctly guessed that the reason Archer was evidently disheartened was that he hadn ' t received an assignment Commodore Maxwell Forrest had given out that day . In response , Archer sarcastically commented to Ruby , " " Sherlock Holmes has nothing on you . " " ( ) Captain Spock once stated , " " An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminate the impossible , whatever remains – however improbable – must be the truth . " " ( ) This is , in fact , a famous quote of Holmes ' . ( ) " The alternate reality version of also quoted this aphorism , although he did not attribute it to an ancestor . " ( ) The was named for this fictional character . ( ) Data ' s interest in Holmes . Data first became aware of Holmes when Riker compared Picard to a private eye , prompting the android to study Holmes ' cases . ( ) He was introduced to the works of Arthur Conan Doyle by Captain Picard . ( ) When describing Dixon Hill to Data , Geordi La Forge described Hill as a 20th century Sherlock Holmes . ( ) Later , Data played the role of Holmes in a holodeck program , alongside La Forge in the role of Dr . Watson . La Forge , while accompanying Data and Katherine Pulaski on a challenge to solve a Holmes mystery he had not read , accidentally programmed the Moriarty hologram so well that it became self - aware and learned of its true existence , requesting the computer to create an adversary capable of defeating " Data " , rather than capable of defeating " Holmes " . ( ) Later in his time on the " Enterprise " , the Sherlock Holmes program became more detailed , allowing it to create Holmes - style cases for Data to solve that were not based on existing Holmes stories . ( ) Appendices . Background information . " Star Trek " movie producer / scribe Nicholas Meyer wrote both the original novel and the screenplay for the Sherlock Holmes pastiche , whose cast included Georgia Brown , Joel Grey , Samantha Eggar , and Jeremy Kemp . Meyer once commented , " Star Trek " fans are just as likely to be Sherlock Holmes fans . " " ( audio commentary , DVD ) " Star Trek " actors who have played the character include Leonard Nimoy and Dwight Schultz ( who performed the role on stage ) , Christopher Plummer , Frank Langella , Matt Frewer and Benedict Cumberbatch . According to the , Sir Arthur created the character of Holmes in 1887 . Apocrypha . In a comic story released by WildStorm Comics titled " Embrace the Wolf " , Data assumed the Sherlock Holmes persona to save crew members who were trapped in the holodeck and being hunted by the energy being known as Redjac . The being had recreated Victorian London to repeat his most famous historical role , that of Jack the Ripper . Using this identity , Data managed to rescue Deanna Troi from a house on the banks of the Thames by examining a comb left at another crime scene and identifying the mud traces left on it , and subsequently led the senior staff to a confrontation with Redjac in a slaughterhouse .