Episode 340: The Six Napoleons of Baltimore

by Scott Monty August 15, 2026

“Those of good fellowship” [VALL]

We return to Baltimore and the rich history of one of America’s oldest Sherlock Holmes societies, the Six Napoleons of Baltimore. Greg Ruby and Mike McSwiggin join us to talk about the group’s origins and its upcoming 80th anniversary.

We hear about their first encounters with Sherlock Holmes and then travel back to 1946, when six Baltimore Sherlockians gathered for dinner and founded what would become the Six Napoleons. We also discuss the wonderfully complicated story behind its name, which connects a local Baltimore woman to Napoleon’s family and, of course, to a famous Holmes adventure.

Today, the group continues its traditions of scholarship, trivia, and, above all, fun. We talk about their memorable “inquisition” used to induct new members, its twice-yearly meetings, and its 80th anniversary celebration this September, which features our own Scott Monty as guest speaker.

We also discuss Greg Ruby’s Sherlockians of Baltimore (SOBs), a newer organization that meets quarterly, on Saturdays. It’s a conversation about 80 years of Sherlockian friendship—and a reminder that the game is still very much afoot in Baltimore.

Our “Learned Societies” segment kicks off with Sherlockian society activities coming up in the first half of October. Then, it’s a new edition of “Examining the Pictures,” with the film critic, journalist, and author Christian Monggaard, BSI, as he begins a review of the BBC's Sherlock series. Finally, the Canonical Couplet quiz will test your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of something from the IHOSE vaults for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock.com by August 29, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. All listeners are eligible to play.

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