The Incredible French Criminalist Who Inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to Create Sherlock Holmes

In a very informative animation, Cracked tells the remarkable story of Eugène François Vidocq, the French former felon who went on to become the very first known private detective, the founder of the Sûreté Nationale, a highly respected criminalist and successful entrepreneur. Vidocq was so impressive that he inspired the creation of a number of literary characters, including the iconic Sherlock Holmes

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.