What is the name of Sherlock Holmes's brother?

The story behind the answer

Mycroft Holmes is Sherlock’s elder brother in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, first appearing in “The Greek Interpreter.” Holmes calls him even more intellectually formidable than himself, but notes Mycroft lacks the energy and inclination for fieldwork. Instead, he advises the British government from behind the scenes—Holmes famously quips that Mycroft “is the British government”—and frequents the taciturn Diogenes Club.

To remember: think “My-croft” as “my craft is statecraft,” pointing to his behind-the-scenes brilliance. He reappears in tales like “The Bruce-Partington Plans,” where his governmental role is pivotal. Mycroft’s character highlights that raw intellect alone isn’t enough for detective work; it must be paired with initiative and legwork—Sherlock’s specialty.