His father, a professor at a university, died when BP was three and the family were not very well off.

He was first educated by his mother, and then was sent to Rose Hill School, where he gained a scholarship to Charterhouse School, in London, and then moving to Surrey.

BP was very eager to learn, and played the piano, fiddle, he acted – often the clown, and was interested in bricklaying, scouting and woodcraft.

BP used to hunt – and cook rabbits, carefully concealing the telltale signs of afire, such as smoke, or stalk his schoolmasters in the woods around the school.

On holidays he once sailed by yacht around the south of England, and canoed to the source of the Thames.

He didn’t do well in school, but joined the army nevertheless and served in India, Afghanistan and South Africa, Zululand and Malta as Assistant Military Secretary and then he went to Ashanti, Africa, to lead the campaign against Prempeh. He was successful, and was promoted to command the 5^th Dragoon Guards in 1897, at the age of 40. It was at this time that he began giving lessons on scouting and gave out badges to soldiers who had reached certain standards, which were based on the north point of a compass. The scouting membership badge today is very similar to this.

Then came the most notable part of his military career. At the age of 43 he was promoted to Major General for his outstanding contribution in the Mafeking war.

During this time he used young boys for responsible jobs, and found out how eager they could be for a challenge. It was also during this time that he wrote his book ‘Aids to Scouting’ and upon reaching England many years later, found of it’s great readership range.

Youth leaders and teachers everywhere were using his books, and he spoke at many meetings.

At one of these meetings, with the Boy’s Brigade he was asked by its founder to work out a scheme for giving greater variety in the training of boys in good citizenship.

BP Set out to re-write ‘Aids to Scouting’ for a younger reading level and in 1907, he held a now-famous experimental camp on Brownsea Island, with 22 private school and working class family boys under his leadership.

In 1908 ‘Scouting for Boys’ was published. The sales of the book soared. Boys formed patrols to test the ideas, and what had been intended as a training aid for existing organisations became the handbook of a new and, ultimately worldwide movement.

'Scouting for Boys' has since been translated into many different languages and dialects.

By 1908 there were so many troops forming around the world that BP set up an office to deal with all the queries.

As Inspector-General of Cavalry, B.-P. considered that he had reached the pinnacle of his career. The title of Field Marshal was within his grasp but he retired from the Army in 1910 at the age of 53, on the advice of King Edward VII, who suggested that he would do more valuable service for his country within the Boy Scout Movement (now Scout Movement) than anyone could hope to do as a soldier!

All his enthusiasm and energy was now directed to the development of Scouting and its sister movement, Guiding. He travelled to all parts of the world, wherever he was most needed, to encourage their growth and give them the inspiration that he alone could give.

In 1912, he married Olave Soames who was his constant help and companion in all this work and by whom he had three children. Lady Baden-Powell was known throughout the world as World Chief Guide until she died in 1977.

At the first international jamboree in London in 1920, BP was named the Chief Scout of the World. This was not an honorary title, but was given to him because the Scouts really believed him to be their Chief.

At the 3rd World Jamboree the Prince of Wales announced that B.-P. had been created a Peer. He took the title of Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell - Gilwell Park being the International Training Centre for Scout Leaders.

Scouting was not BP's only interest, for excelled at pig sticking and fishing, and enjoyed polo and big game hunting. He was also a very good black & white and watercolour artist and took an interest in sculpture and cinephotography.

Baden Powell received many honorary degrees from various universities, received freedoms of many cities and was awarded 28 Foreign Orders and decorations and 19 Foreign Scout Awards.

In 1938, suffering from ill-health, B.-P. returned to Africa, which had meant so much in his life. Even now he still produced many books and sketches.

At this time he wrote a farewell message for all the Scouts and Guides in the World. This was to be published after his death.

On January 8, 1941, Baden-Powell died, aged 83. He is buried in a simple grave at Nyeri, Kenya within sight of Mount Kenya. On his headstone are the words, 'Robert Baden-Powell, Chief Scout of the World' adorned with the Boy Scout and Girl Guide Badges. His memory remains for all time in the hearts of millions of men and women, boys and girls.

This was the end of someone whose life greatly affected many others, especially those who have joined BP’s Scouts.

Source: http://member.netlink.com.au/~skessler/Scout1.htm