Constance Amelia Monica (Connie) Doyle Hornung MARCH 4, 1868 - JUNE 8, 1924
The Doyle's sixth child and fifth daughter, Constance (called Connie) was born during a difficult time in the family; her grandfather, John Doyle had died that January, shortly after
visiting his son's family, and Charles was thrown into a fit of depression at the news. Later, as a combination of alcoholism and mental illness rendered her father increasingly unable to
care for his family, Connie followed her older sisters and became a governess in Portugal.
While there, Connie met E.W. ("Willie") Hornung, a friend of Arthur's who was also a writer, and their courtship continued after she returned to England in 1891. They married in a traditional Catholic ceremony in 1893 and had a son, whom they named Arthur Oscar, in honor of Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde.
Of all the Doyle children, Connie alone retained her Catholic faith. It was therefore difficult for her and her husband to accept Arthur's relationship withJean Leckie, and they tried to convince him that its platonic nature made it no less improper.
This disagreement caused some painful exchanges between the two families, but it did not keep Arthur from promoting Willie's career, or providing financial help when needed. After Louise's death, the Hornungs withdrew their opposition. The Hornungs lost their son in Flanders, on July 6, 1915, and E.W. himself died in 1921. Arthur believed he received psychic
messages from them both.
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