Which fictional medical detective inspired Gregory House in House M.D.?

Sherlock Holmes inspired Gregory House in House M.D.

The connection appears in the character’s name, his reasoning style, and several story details. “House” is a near-equivalent of “Holmes,” and both characters solve difficult cases by noticing clues that other people overlook. House also lives at 221B Baker Street, the famous London address associated with Holmes, although the series places House in New Jersey.

James Wilson functions in part as a counterpart to Dr. John Watson, Holmes’s friend and narrator. House’s dependence on pain medication and his musical ability also echo elements associated with Holmes in the original stories. The inspiration is not a claim that House is literally Holmes; he is an original physician shaped by detective fiction.