Samuel J. Avery (1828-1908) was born in Brandon, Vermont, and died in Chicago, Illinois. He was a student of Mary Baker Eddy's, completing the Primary class, along with his wife, Olive L. Avery, in 1884. He was a medical doctor, graduating from Rush Medical College (now part of Rush University) in 1864. Although there is no record of Avery or his wife joining the Christian Scientist Association or uniting with the Church of Christ (Scientist), Avery was a member of the Christian Scientist Association in Chicago. He taught others about Christian Science but did not attend a Normal class with Mary Baker Eddy. His healing practice in Chicago appears to have included both elements of Christian Science and traditional medicine. It's not clear when Avery left the Christian Science movement, but he continued to correspond with Eddy until 1887.

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