History
From its founding in 1881 to its present-day incarnation, the Deduction Club’s history is an intriguing tale of mystery, magic, and possible misdeed.
Foundation (1881)
Established, informally, on 15 November 1881, and primarily located at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, the Deduction Club sought interest ‘from persons desiring to discuss and appraise detectives both within and without the capital, whose activities may be considered significant’.
Thus proposed, the object attracted notable attention. The then-Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Whittaker Ellis, was an early proponent and proved instrumental in garnering the subsequent special approbation of the royal family, whose consecutive majesties Victoria and Edward VII consented to become patrons and subscribers.
Of the club’s three founder members, two — Mr G. H. Oestmann and Ms C. C. Crole — resided in Baker Street, at numbers 219 and 56 respectively. Their consequent neighbourly acquaintance with the preeminent detective Mr S. Holmes kindled an inexorable curiosity regarding the powers of observation and deduction, and led, in concert with Mr W. Morton, Mr Oestmann’s associate and the proprietor of the Egyptian Hall, to an inaugural discussion of matters deductive.
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Further details forthcoming.