Nero Wolfe, created by American mystery writer Rex Stout, is a brilliant and eccentric armchair detective. Born in Montenegro, Wolfe's past remains mysterious as he resides in a luxurious brownstone in New York City, where he indulges in reading, tending his orchids, and savoring gourmet meals prepared by his chef, Fritz Brenner. His cases are narrated by Archie Goodwin, his sharp-witted assistant. Stout published 33 novels and 41 novellas and short stories featuring Wolfe, most set in New York City. The character has been adapted for various media platforms. Despite the evolving society depicted in the stories, the principal characters do not age. Nero Wolfe's age is 56, according to a memo prepared by Rex Stout in 1949, and he is described as unusually obese. Wolfe's most notable departure from his routine occurs in The Black Mountain, where he leaves the brownstone and the United States to avenge the murder of his oldest friend. The character's origins are primarily linked to Montenegro, with only one reference suggesting he was born in the United States, which Stout later clarified.

Nero Hawley (1742 – January 30, 1817) was an African-American soldier born into slavery in North Stratford, Connecticut. He earned his freedom after enlisting in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Hawley's life is featured in the 1976 book From Valley Forge to Freedom, highlighting his association with present-day Trumbull, Connecticut. He served in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment, participating in significant battles such as the Battle of White Marsh, the winter at Valley Forge, and the Battle of Monmouth. After the war, Hawley became a brickmaker and a member of the Episcopal Church at Ripton, now Huntington. He received a pension and died in 1817, buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Trumbull Center. Hawley's grandsons played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Zion Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His legacy lives on through his descendants and the historical records of his contributions during the American Revolutionary War.