Peter the Wild Boy

Peter the Wild Boy
Peter in a detail of a painting by William Kent at Kensington Palace
Born
Birth name unknown

c. 1713
Place of birth, unknown; probably somewhere in or near Hanover, Germany.
DiedFebruary 1785 (aged 71–72)
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England
Other namesPeter the Wild Man
Known forferal child

Peter the Wild Boy (born c. 1713; died 22 February 1785) was a German boy who was found in 1725 living wild in the woods near Hamelin. He was of unknown parentage and had been living an entirely feral existence for an unknown length of time, surviving by eating forest flora; he walked on all fours, exhibited uncivilized behaviour and could not be taught to speak a language. It has been speculated that he suffered from the very rare genetic disorder Pitt–Hopkins syndrome.

Peter was found in the Hertswold Forest by a party of hunters led by George I while on a visit to his Hanover homeland and brought to Great Britain in 1726 by order of his daughter-in-law Caroline of Ansbach, the Princess of Wales.

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