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The Boys who Inspired the Character of Peter Pan

Katie Vernon

In 1897, while walking his dog around London’s Kensington Gardens, J.M. Barrie had an interesting encounter with two young boys accompanied by their nanny and newborn brother Peter.

Barrie was a 37-year-old novelist from Scotland, and the boys, George and Jack Llewelyn Davies, five and four respectively.

Barrie found the boys exceptionally charismatic and quickly befriended them. He soon became a close friend with all the Llewelyn Davies family and spent a lot of time with the boys who are known to the world for having inspired Barrie to write one of the greatest stories of our time — the story of Peter Pan.

J. M. Barrie
J. M. Barrie

In 1902, J.M. Barrie introduced the character of the boy who doesn’t want to grow up to the world in his novel The Little White Bird. It was a great success and was quickly adapted for the stage.

In 1911, after more than a decade-long friendship and inspiration by the Llewelyn Davies family, Barrie penned the full novel, Peter and Wendy.

Cover of 1915 edition of J. M. Barrie’s novel, first published in 1911, illustrated by F. D. Bedford.
Cover of 1915 edition of J. M. Barrie’s novel, first published in 1911, illustrated by F. D. Bedford.

In 1900 and 1903, Arthur and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies had two more children, Michael and Nico. Sylvia was the daughter of the writer and cartoonist George du Maurier and sister of actor Gerald du Maurier.

Although Barrie got married twice, he didn’t father any children. His affection was oriented towards the five Llewelyn Davis boys, the lost boys, who loved him and called him Uncle Jim.

The Davies boys: Nico (in father Arthur’s arms), Jack, Peter, George, Michael (in front).
The Davies boys: Nico (in father Arthur’s arms), Jack, Peter, George, Michael (in front).

Barrie entertained them with stories through which he created Peter Pan. He said that the character was a composite of the five Llewelyn Davies’ boys.

However, over the years there were many theories that Barrie himself and his early childhood served as an inspiration. His brother David died in a skating accident at the age of 13, remaining a child who never grew up in Barrie’s memory.

Arthur Llewelyn Davies, the boys’ father.
Arthur Llewelyn Davies, the boys’ father.

The tragic incident left a great mark on the writer, leaving him, in a way, not fully grown up.

Unfortunately, tragedy also struck the Davis’ when Arthur died of bone cancer in 1907. Only three years later, Sylvia died of cancer. Throughout it all, Barrie was there to provide financial support for the children, and when their mother died, he became their guardian.

J.M. Barrie took this photo of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in 1898. She was the mother of the five boys who inspired Barrie to write his story about “Peter Pan.”
J.M. Barrie took this photo of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in 1898. She was the mother of the five boys who inspired Barrie to write his story about “Peter Pan.”

Although eternalized in one of the favorite characters of all time, tragedy haunted the Llewelyn Davies’ brothers like a curse.

The oldest, George, volunteered to serve as an officer in the British Army during World War I and was killed in action in 1915, aged 21.

J. M. Barrie (as Hook) and Michael (as Peter Pan) on the lawn at Rustington, August 1906.
J. M. Barrie (as Hook) and Michael (as Peter Pan) on the lawn at Rustington, August 1906.

In 1921, while a student at the University of Oxford, Michael Llewelyn Davies drowned in the River Thames along with his inseparable friend and suspected lover Rupert Buxton, son of Sir Thomas Fowell Victor Buxton, 4th Baronet.

Davies dressed as Peter Pan at age 6.
Davies dressed as Peter Pan at age 6.

He was described as a brilliant boy, destined for great things and considered as the biggest influence in the creation of Peter Pan’s character. He was particularly close with Barrie who wrote that Michael’s death “was in a way the end of me.”

Unlike George and Michael who were Barrie’s favorites, John, the second brother, resented the writer, believing that he was trying to take his father’s place.

Peter Pan statue by Sir George Frampton in Kensington Gardens, London.
Peter Pan statue by Sir George Frampton in Kensington Gardens, London.

He died at the age of 65 from lung disease, half-a-year before Peter’s suicide.

Peter, who lent his name to the famous character, never fully came to terms with his association with Peter Pan. Also, he never overcame the disappointment for being the only one left out of Barrie’s will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYhFVfkfujs

In 1960, the 63-year-old Peter Llewelyn Davis found himself at a moment of alcoholism, ill health, and the knowledge that his wife and three sons had inherited the fatal Huntington’s disease. He threw himself under a train at one of London’s Underground stations.

Read another story from us: The True-Life Inspiration for the Classic Story ‘Beauty and the Beast’

The youngest of Llewelyn Davis’ brothers, Nico, outlived the rest and died at the age of 76 in 1980. In 1978, he served as the consultant to the writer Andrew Birkin for his BBC mini-series The Lost Boys.

Katie Vernon

Katie Vernon is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News