Who Is the First Boy Scout in the World? The Surprising Origin Story
The Birth of the Boy Scouts Movement
It all started with one man’s wild idea
The Boy Scout movement wasn’t born in a boardroom — it began with a British soldier, writer, and outdoorsman named Robert Baden-Powell. He’d seen firsthand how young boys lacked basic survival skills and discipline during his time in the army. So he thought: “What if we teach kids the stuff soldiers learn, but make it fun?” Boom. The idea of Scouting was born.
In 1907, Baden-Powell ran a camp on Brownsea Island (off the south coast of England), bringing together 20 boys from different backgrounds to test out his ideas.
That camp is officially recognized as the start of the Scouting movement.
But here’s the twist — who was the first Boy Scout?
So... who was the first boy scout in the world?
A name you probably haven’t heard before
While Baden-Powell was the founder, he wasn’t the first “Scout.” That title is often given to William Alexander Smith, or more precisely, George W. Green, depending on who you ask.
Confusing? Yeah, it is.
Here’s the clearer version:
Most historians agree that Frederick Russell Burnham influenced the survivalist and outdoorsy side of Scouting, but the first actual Boy Scout enrolled under the program was likely Arthur (or sometimes listed as Edward) Thompson — one of the boys at that first Brownsea Island camp in 1907.
Unfortunately, records weren’t exactly stellar back then. Baden-Powell didn’t keep an Instagram story log, ya know?
Still, Arthur Thompson is often credited as Scout No. 1 by several UK scouting organizations.
The first official Scout registration
And here’s where it gets nerdy (but cool)
In 1908, after the success of the camp, Baden-Powell published Scouting for Boys, and thousands of boys across Britain started forming patrols. That’s when the official Boy Scout Association was formed.
According to some preserved records, the first person to be officially registered as a Scout was Frank Goldsmith from Kent, England. He literally received Scout Badge No. 1.
So in a way, Frank gets that title too — but in the “paperwork sense.”
Which leads us to a weird but kinda fun conclusion:
There’s no single universally agreed “first” Boy Scout, but the contenders are:
Arthur Thompson (first Brownsea camper)
Frank Goldsmith (first to register officially)
Or just... Robert Baden-Powell (if we’re being loose with definitions)
The spirit of the “first” Scout lives on
It wasn’t just about who was first
Let’s be honest, the idea of Scouting became way bigger than one kid.
From that single 1907 camp, Scouting grew into a global movement with over 50 million members in nearly every country.
And what did the first Scouts do?
They cooked over campfires, tied knots, read maps, helped the community — pretty much the same core stuff Scouts still do today.
What started as one man’s experiment has now shaped generations. That’s huge.
Final thoughts: First or not, every Scout matters
So, who is the first Boy Scout in the world?
Technically? Could be Arthur Thompson. Maybe Frank Goldsmith.
But really — does it matter?
Because every kid who puts on that uniform, learns a new skill, helps a neighbor, or just becomes a better version of themselves… they’re part of that legacy.
And honestly, that’s way cooler than just being first.
How much height should a boy have to look attractive?
Well, fellas, worry no more, because a new study has revealed 5ft 8in is the ideal height for a man. Dating app Badoo has revealed the most right-swiped heights based on their users aged 18 to 30.
Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.