The story of Peter the Wild Boy began in the Forest of Hertswold in Germany in 1725. A feral child of about 10 or 11 was found naked by local villagers. He was climbing trees (“like a monkey”) and making very strange sounds. The locals believed he had been raised by wolves. The frightened child was “captured like a wild animal”. He was taken to a local correction house (a workhouse), with other vagrants and petty thieves.
King George
King George I of England was also Elector of Hanover. He heard about the boy. And Peter was immediately summoned to the king’s court at Kensington Palace. After meeting the young boy, the king Invited him to become a member of the king’s household.
Life in the King’s Court
Georgian London became frenzied with the media sensation caused by this unusual child. Two footmen carried Peter to meet with the king, and he was allowed to scamper around on all-fours. Numerous accounts of this arrival mention him playing with ladies’ gloves, and his fascination with a pocket watch. He even attempted to pick a few pockets. And he seized the chamberlain’s hat and put it on his own head, much to the disgust of the courtiers. This was of course improper behaviour in the presence of the king. He approached the king who he recognised from a previous meeting in Germany. Again the courtiers were horrified. The king was not to be approached unless summonsed and then politely, and deliberately.
Human Pet
With his charming smile, Peter became the human pet of the Georgian court. He was short, had a mop of thick, curly hair, dropping eyelids and thick lips. Apparently he also had two fingers fused together. His unusual appearance added to the ‘entertainment’.
In the formal, rigid court, Peter was a curious fascination. He did not obey rules of etiquette. He did not know what the codes of conduct were. And yet, became a favourite of the king. He laughed out loud, which the courtiers thought was vulgar and stole kisses from all the ladies in the palace.
The king invited Peter to eat with him, but Peter only ate vegetables, berries and nuts. He ate with his hands and threw food around. The king was disappointed in Peter’s lack of table manners and so appointed a royal tutor to work with Peter.
Royal Tutor
Doctor John Arbuthnot was Scottish and the court doctor. He was a gentle and sensitive man and thus perfect for the job. The doctor got Peter into a routine. In the mornings Peter was dressed by the courtiers. It was a struggle to get him into his velvet green suit and red stockings as he hated wearing clothes.
When he had first arrived at the court and seen a man take off his stockings, he thought the man was removing his skin and this terrified Peter. Dressing often took hours. Peter then had lessons with doctor who attempted to teach Peter to speak, but all he ever learned was how to say his name. At night, he preferred to curl up on the floor in the corner of his room rather than sleep in his luxurious bed.
Nature vs Nurture
This was the Age of Enlightenment, and the wild boy encouraged debate on ‘nature versus nurture’. Many famous writers of the time wrote papers and pamphlets about Peter, including Jonathan Swift and Daniel Dafoe.
Peter was constantly a source of mockery and one newspaper described Peter as “The Most Wonderful Wonder that ever appeared to the Wonder of the British Nation”. Everyone was so intrigued by this human, yet animal-like boy, that even a waxwork figure of Peter was exhibited for a short time on the Strand in London.
Although he showed signs of autism, recent studies into Peter’s condition have revealed he may have suffered from the rare genetic condition called Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome. This would also explain his severe learning difficulties. This may also have been why his parents had abandoned him in the woods. They just couldn’t cope with his condition in 18th century rural Germany.
The king grew tired of him
Although he represented a breath of fresh air in the stifling royal courts, fascination with Peter waned. The king grew tired of him and his unconventional behaviour and he was retired to a farm near Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. On a pension of £35 per year, he was looked after by a farmer who was a retired courtier. To prevent him from wondering off, the farmer made a collar made for him, with an inscription of: ‘Peter the Wild Man of Hanover. Whoever will bring him to Mr Fenn at Berkhamsted shall be paid for their trouble.'”
There were numerous reports of him enjoying his life in the country. For decades he indulged in his favourite activities in the outdoors, reminding him of his life in the German woods. He especially enjoyed autumn, starry nights, watching flames in the fireplace and drinking gin.
Peter the Wild Boy was loved
Peter was so loved by the town folk, that when he died in his 70s, they all clubbed together for a grave stone for their ‘Wild Boy’. He was buried at the door of St Mary’s Northchurch in Berkhamsted and today there are still bunches of flowers left regularly on the grave.
Peter the Wild Boy was remembered for his gentle and ‘human’ character, but his very existence exposed the shallow nature of life in upper-class Georgian society.
Fascinating. I will visit