Unknown Scout

The 'Unknown Scout' was an anonymous member of The Boy Scout Association in the United Kingdom whose good turn inspired William D. Boyce to form the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

Legend

William Boyce was lost on a foggy street in London in 1909 when an unknown Scout came to his aid, guiding him to his destination. Boyce offered a tip, but the boy refused, explaining that he was a Boy Scout and was merely doing his daily good turn. Soon thereafter, Boyce met with General Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, who was Chief Scout at the time. Boyce returned to America, and, four months later, founded the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.

Facts behind the legend

The story of the Unknown Scout has been described as "true, at least in essence." While an unknown Scout helped him and refused a tip, this Scout only helped him cross a street to a hotel, did not take him to the Scout headquarters, and Boyce never met Baden-Powell. Upon Boyce's request, the Scout did give him the address of the Scout headquarters where Boyce later went on his own and picked up information about the group. Boyce returned to London after his safari and visited the Scout headquarters again and gained the use of Scouting For Boys in the development of a U.S. Scouting program.

While Boyce's original account does not mention there being fog that fateful day, in a 1928 account he did say there was fog. However, climatologists report no fog that day in London. In 1911 a man from Providence, Rhode Island was lost in a fog and helped by a Scout who refused a tip. This man was so impressed that he remembered Scouting in his will. West later stated he recognized the value of adding fog to the legend and by 1923 the "fog" was firmly established as part of the legend. The statue was initially emplaced on a tree stump and later moved to the current brick pedestal located on what is now known as the Buffalo Lawn behind the White House at Gilwell Park.