Warington Baden-Powell

Henry Warington Smyth Baden-Powell, KC (3 February 1847-24 April 1921), known as Warington within the family, was Robert Baden-Powell's oldest brother. He was educated at St Paul's College where he graduated in 1857. Early in his career he qualified as a Master Mariner and was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve. Interest in small boats led him to a fascination with canoes. In 1871, at the age of 24, he paddled and sailed a canoe on a cruise around the Baltic Sea that included stops in Germany, Denmark and Sweden as described in his book, "Canoe Travelling", published in 1871. He was called to the Bar in Trinity term 1876 being admitted as a Barrister of the Inner Temple and later was admitted to the Admiralty Bar and became a member of several important organizations focused on the sea. He was admitted a King's Counsel (K.C.) 26 April 1872. In 1913 he married Cicely Farmer, the author.

He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (F.R.G.S.). He also held membership in The Shipwrights' Company, the Associate of the Institute of Naval Architects Council, the Yacht Racing Association and the Athenaeum Club.

ea Scouts

Robert Baden-Powell asked his brother Warington to head up the first specialized branch of the Boy Scouts. Warington Baden-Powell agreed, and Sea Scouting was officially organized in England in 1910. Warington then wrote the first official Sea Scout manual, "Sea Scouting and Seamanship for Boys". The manual sold well and Sea Scouting flourished.

Canoe sailing

Warington Baden-Powell was an early member and promoter of the Royal Canoe Club which he had joined in 1874. He developed the canoe as a specialised sailing vessel, and by the latter 1870s sailing canoes were taking part in organised racing, and providing keen amateur sport at reasonable cost at a time when yachting was an activity for the wealthy.

Published works

*"Canoe Travelling: Log of a Cruise on the Baltic, and Practical Hints on Building and Fitting Canoes" (London: Smith, Elder, 1871)
*"Sea Scouting and Seamanship for Boys" (Glasgow: Brown, Son & Ferguson, 1910)