Arthur Rose Eldred
A teenage boy from Long Island who, by earning a single badge, became the archetype for millions of American youths.
1895–1951 (age 56)·First Eagle Scout in the United States·Birthday: August 16·The Lost Generation
Biography
In the summer of 1912, Arthur Rose Eldred, a 16-year-old from Oceanside, New York, completed the requirements for a new, untested rank in the Boy Scouts of America. The organization itself was just two years old. His final review was no mere formality; he stood before a panel that included the movement's founding fathers, Ernest Thompson Seton and Daniel Carter Beard. When he passed, he became Eagle Scout No. 1. That September, he received a telegram notifying him of the achievement, a humble beginning for what would become a cultural institution. Eldred’s life after scouting was one of quiet service—he served in the Navy in World War I, worked in agriculture and the railroad industry, and was a dedicated civic leader. But his lasting identity was fixed in that moment of youth, setting a standard of character, skill, and service that would define an American ideal for generations to come.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Arthur was born in 1895, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1895
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1895Born
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1900Started school
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1908Became a teenager
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Could drive
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could vote
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Turned 21
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 30
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 40
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 50
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1951Died at 56
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
Key Achievements
- Officially recognized as the first Eagle Scout in the history of the Boy Scouts of America on September 2, 1912.
- Personally reviewed and approved for the rank by BSA founders Ernest Thompson Seton and Daniel Carter Beard.
- Awarded the Bronze Honor Medal for saving a life, one of the BSA's earliest heroism awards.
Did You Know?
He learned of his historic achievement via a telegram sent to his summer job.
His Eagle Scout service project involved creating a detailed local map for his community.
He later served as a Scoutmaster for his own son's troop.
The original telegram notifying him is held in the National Scouting Museum.
“The Scout Oath and Law are my guideposts in life.”
