William H. Bradley (1850-1938) was born in Lancashire, England, and records indicate he most likely died in Ontario, Canada. He was a student of Mary Baker Eddy's, completing the Primary class (1883) and Normal class (1886). He joined the Christian Scientist Association on May 23, 1883, and joined the Church of Christ (Scientist) shortly after. In December 1887, he was elected treasurer of the Church for the following year, during which time he helped acquire the plot of land on which the Original Edifice would eventually be built. However, in the summer of 1888, it was discovered that Bradley had failed to make scheduled payments on the property acquired by the Church and would be accused of stealing nearly $4,000 from the Church building fund. Bradley abandoned his wife and children and fled Boston for Detroit with his student, Harriet S. Cowan. Bradley and Cowan briefly set up a healing and teaching practice in Detroit before going their separate ways. After leaving Boston, he was unanimously expelled from the Association and Church in October 1888. Ultimately, Bradley fled to Canada in about 1894, remarried, and lived in Bothwell, Ontario.

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