Victor of Aveyron
Victor of Aveyron | |
|---|---|
Victor's portrait from the front cover of the book about him | |
| Born | c. 1788 |
| Died | 1828 (aged around 40) Paris, France |
| Other names | The Wild Boy of Aveyron |
| Known for | being a feral child |
Victor of Aveyron (French: Victor de l'Aveyron; c. 1788 – 1828) was a French feral child who was found around the age of 9. Not only is he considered one of the most famous feral children, but his case is also the most documented case of a feral child. Upon his discovery, he was captured multiple times, running away from civilization approximately eight times. Eventually, his case was taken up by a physician, Jean Marc Gaspard Itard, who worked with the boy for five years and gave him his name Victor. Itard was interested in determining what Victor could learn. He devised procedures to teach the boy words and recorded his progress. Based on his work with Victor, Itard broke new ground in the education of the developmentally delayed.