America's First Eagle Scout - Baden-Powell Was There

America's First Eagle Scout - Baden-Powell Was There

Arthur Eldred was America's very first Eagle Scout, passing his Eagle Board of Review on January 31, 1912. The Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910, so clearly Eldred was a speed demon.

What's really cool is that Lord Robert Baden-Powell sat in on the Board, as did Ernest Thompson Seton and Daniel Carter Beard, three of the giants of early Scouting history. Baden-Powell happened to be in America at the time on an inspection visit, and so he was invited to participate in Eldred's Board.

Although lots of details about this very first Eagle Board were already known and published, some new details about dates recently came to light, which prompted Scouting Magazine to revisit the event. By the way, in addition to an Eagle badge, Eldred also received a Bronze Honor Medal for saving a boy from drowning.