“There was one little sallow rat-faced, dark-eyes fellow,” Watson writes in A Study in Scarlet, “who was introduced to me as Mr. Lestrade.”
This is the audience’s first introduction to Inspector G. Lestrade of Scotland Yard. Arguably not the best introduction to a man who becomes a staple in later stories. A little while later, Sherlock Holmes adds to this introduction with these words:
“Gregson is the smartest of the Scotland Yarders,” my friend remarked; “he and Lestrade are the pick of a bad lot. They are both quick and energetic, but conventional—shockingly so. They have their knives into one another, too. They are as jealous as a pair of professional beauties. There will be some fun over this case if they are both put upon the scent.”
From Watson’s, and later, Holmes’ descriptions of Inspector Lestrade, how did this man become an unofficial fan favorite?
In Watson’s narratives there are four members of Scotland Yard that Holmes deems worthy enough to interact with during Holmes’ adventures. Inspector Bradstreet (who never gets a first name), who interacted with Holmes and Watson in three adventures (TWIS, ENGR, and BLUE).
Next is Stanley Hopkins, who is not an Inspector but a promising detective (GOLD). Hopkins, whom Holmes tells Watson when Hopkins writes to him about Sir Eustace’s death: “Hopkins’s writing shows considerable agitation, and he is not an emotional man.” (ABBE). Hopkins joins Holmes and Watson on four adventures. (ABBE, GOLD, BLAC, and MISS).
Third on this list is Inspector Tobias Gregson whom Watson writes, “was well known to us as Inspector Gregson of Scotland Yard, an energetic, gallant, and, within his limitations, a capable officer”. (WIST). Out of all the officers of Scotland Yard, Holmes seems to get along with Gregson the most even if they have only worked with him on fours cases (STUD, GREE, WIST, and REDC). He was also mentioned in SIGN as well, “When Gregson or Lestrade or Athelney Jones are out of their depths—which, by the way, is their normal state—the matter is laid before me.”
So, despite Inspector G. Lestrade working with Holmes and Watson on a breathtaking thirteen adventures (BOSC, NOBL, EMPT, NORW, CHAS, SIXN, SECO, CARD, BRUC, LADY, 3GAR, HOUN, and STUD) and being mentioned in STUD as well, what is it that made Lestrade show up for many of these cases? As Holmes mentioned in STUD, both Gregson and Lestrade are not only the “best of a bad lot,” but they have a professional rivalry. Yet Lestrade blows Gregson out of the water when it comes to cases with Holmes. Which, of course, gets his name in the paper much more. But why?
Is it because Gregson has other cases he’s working on when these adventures appear? Is Lestrade hoarding the good cases, or just camping out around Baker Street so he’s the first to get a jump on these cases? Is Lestrade just clever or ambitious enough that, when these cases appear on his docket, he directs them towards Holmes for consultation? But again, why?
Outside the books, the media tends to use Lestrade often as their official liaison to Scotland Yard. Even outside the original canonical stories. Pastiches will add Lestrade into their stories. The Inspector even has an entire book series dedicated to him. I could be wrong but I don’t believe Hopkins, Bradstreet or Gregson are this lucky. The closest I could come to another one of the four being chosen over Lestrade was Captain Tobias Gregson in the TV series Elementary. Even then, Lestrade appeared in a few episodes. Because he’s notable and if you’re reading a Sherlock Holmes adventure, outside the core two of Holmes and Watson, people are going to think of Lestrade.
Was it just good publicity? Smarter people than me will probably have answers and if I had six months of research, I could probably give a well-thought-out answer. My current thought is despite being a “sallow, rat-faced fellow” as Watson seems to think, Lestrade is clever enough, “the best of a bad bunch”, cocky, stubborn and seems to give Holmes at least a little bit of a challenge. He doesn’t acquiesce to Holmes immediately, instead pushing his own theories be them correct or wildly wrong. I think Holmes likes the challenge, enjoys the power play. If Lestrade could ever get one over on the great Sherlock Holmes, that would be something to crow about. He never does, but it doesn’t mean he stops trying. This challenge comes out in the stories and in the way the Inspector is used outside the canon as well.
Over the years, Lestrade has become as household as Holmes and Watson. If Watson is Holmes’ Boswell, when Lestrade is his ombudsman. The man to toss in if one needs a Scotland Yard Inspector in the midst. He’s easy, the copper with the most written about him, the man with the most interaction with Holmes outside Watson. These interactions make it easy for others to write about him, and from there, it just gave him the edge needed to become the favorite.
