Agnes Baden-Powell - Early Life

Early Life

Agnes was the ninth of ten children, and the third daughter. Her father, the Reverend Baden Powell, was the Savilian Chair of Geometry at the University of Oxford. Three of her brothers were Warington Baden-Powell, George Baden-Powell, and Baden Baden-Powell. She was also the aunt of Peter Baden-Powell, 2nd Baron Baden-Powell and Betty Clay, and the great-aunt of Robert Baden-Powell, 3rd Baron Baden-Powell and Michael Baden-Powell.

Her mother, Henrietta Grace Smyth, was the third wife of Rev. Baden Powell (the previous two having died), and was a gifted musician and artist.

When Agnes was only two years of age, the Reverend Baden Powell died. In order to honor him after his death, Henrietta added Baden to their surname and the family has since been known as Baden-Powell.

This left the family under the firm control of Henrietta, who was determined to instill in her children a desire to succeed. As Agnes' brother, Robert, has been quoted "The whole secret of my getting on lay with my mother."

Agnes went on to become an accomplished musician, playing the organ, piano and violin. She also had many varied interests, including natural history and astronomy, and kept bees, birds and butterflies in her home. With her brother Baden Fletcher Smyth Baden-Powell she made balloons, working the silk for the envelope and made many flights together. Later she helped him with aeroplane-building. Agnes was an honorary companion of the Royal Aeronautical Society from 1938.

She was for some years President of the Westminster Division of the Red Cross, and worked for the League of Mercy and Queen Mary's Needlework Guild.