Rahere, or Raher, or Raherius, (died 1144) was a favourite courtier of King Henry I. He is most famous for having founded St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1123.

Many of the details of his life have become confused with legend, but it is clear that a historical Rahere existed, and did many of the things in the legends about him. He has been variously described as a courtier, a clerk, a jester, and a clergyman, and may at various times in his life have been all of these. He is listed as one of the Canons of St Paul's Cathedral in a 1115 document.

On a pilgrimage to Rome, he fell ill and had a vision of St Bartholomew who told him to found a hospital. On his return, he adopted a religious calling, and founded St Bartholomew's Hospital and the nearby church of St Bartholomew-the-Great, becoming prior of the church, a post he held to his death in 1144. His ornate tomb can be found in the church.

He is the subject of a poem, "Rahere", by Rudyard Kipling, collected in his book Debits and Credits, and is a major figure in Kipling's story "The Tree of Justice", collected in his book Rewards and Fairies.

[edit] External links

• Rahere's grant
• Photograph of Rahere's tomb in the church of St Bartholomew-the-Great
• Notes on the poem "Rahere"
• Rahere at Find a Grave

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