A radiant boy is a ghostly apparition of a young boy, sometimes clothed in white and sometimes naked, but always with locks of hair that are brightly golden. Their eyes will lock with yours and although it is a benevolent enough stare, seeing a radiant boy is reputed to mean suffering an equally tragic death oneself. A radiant boy is associated with being a portent of death.

There are numerous radiant boys noted in the counties of Cumberland and Northumberland in England. These counties were originally settled in the 9th and 10th centuries by German and Scandinavian settlers.

There are two incidents involving a radiant boy that have made them infamous and greatly feared. The first incident involved the Rector of Greystoke and his wife. The two had accepted an invitation to visit with the Howard family in 1803 at their manor, Corby Castle in Cumberland. After dinner on their first evening at the manor, the Rector and wife retired to a nice cozy room which was part of the original house and located near a tower. The Rector and his wife found their room lit by the comforting flames of the fire burning brightly in the fireplace. Once in bed, they dozed off but were awakened sometime between 1 and 2 AM. They noticed the fire had burned out completely but next to their bed was a small glimmer which increased in brilliance until the light was overwhelming. Within the center of the resplendent light was a beautiful boy clothed in white.

The Rector was so taken aback by this sight that he at first feared the young man was on fire. Their eyes locked and the Rector could see that this was not the case. The boy moved towards the fireplace and disappeared through the wall. The Rector apparently had gotten up and checked the wall for an opening or escape route only to find himself shaken once again. There was no opening, no way for the young man to escape the room!

The Rector and his wife announced their early departure to follow immediately after breakfast. Although the Howard family and guests pleaded with them to reveal their sudden decision, there were no explanations forthcoming. The Rector and wife left hurriedly, almost as if the hounds of hell were nipping at their heels!

It wasn't until sometime later that the Rector revealed to the Howard family the reason for their hasty departure. The Rector gave his account in detail and gave his word as a clergyman.

The other infamous incident involving the appearance of a radiant boy involved the Lord Castlereagh, Second Marquis of Londonderry and England's most renowned statesman. There are, of course, several different versions of what happened but the one reportedly to be the most likely occurred during an ill-fated hunting trip in Ireland. Capt. Robert Stewart was stationed in Ireland while in the military and had gone off hunting alone. However, unfamiliar with the countryside he became turned around and lost. Finding a large estate, he requested to spend the night. His guests not only invited him to stay but to also join their hunt in two days time.

The butler was called and told to put their guest in one of the many guest rooms. Capt. Stewart found himself in a room with little furniture and a large fire in the fireplace. Exhausted from his activities, he went to sleep. He was awakened a short time later and found the fire extinguished and a brilliant light burning in the center of his room. He was startled to see a naked young man standing in the center surrounded by this dazzling light. Capt. Stewart saw the eyes of the young man just as he disappeared.

Angry to have been pranked, Capt. Stewart demanded of his host the reason for the prank and a way back into town immediately. After gleaming from Capt. Stewart the events, the host called the butler into the room. The butler was promptly reprimanded for placing the Capt. in the boy's room. The butler, in defense stated he had lit the fire in the fireplace to "keep the boy from coming out."

Within a few days of the radiant boy experience, the older brother of Capt. Stewart was killed in a boating accident. He immediately became first in line of becoming the next Marquis of Londonderry. Stewart left the army and began an illustrious and successful life as a politician. He is credited with creating the Act of the Union between England and Ireland. He was Secretary of War in 1805 and 1807 and foreign secretary in 1812. However, he was not well liked by many people. Shortly after his father died in 1821, he found himself in dire straits financially and physically. Suffering from gout and stress, he became paranoid and suspicious of everyone. On August 12, 1822, a broken man, he took a penknife and slashed his own throat.

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