A Number of Influences
Gene Roddenberry said ‘Star Trek’ was influenced by a number of creations, including A.E. van Vogt’s novel “The Voyage of the Space Beagle,” Eric Frank Russell’s ‘Marathon’ series, Jonathan Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels,’ C. S. Forester’s ‘Horatio Hornblower,’ and the movie ‘The Forbidden Planet.’
Source: Huffpost
The original concept included Captain April of the S.S. Yorktown, who was later re-conceptualized as Captain Christopher Pike in the pilot episode. After the first pilot was canceled, Captain Kirk then replaced Pike.