Prof Orlando Charnock Bradley FRSE (1871–1937) was a British veterinarian and first President of the National Veterinary Medical Association. He is described as one of the foremost veterinarians of the 20th century.
He was born in Wheelton near Chorley in Lancashire on 8 May 1871. He studied at Chorley Grammar School and then the Harris Institute in Preston (studying chemistry, animal physiology and botany) before travelling north to Edinburgh to study as a vet. This was at the New Veterinary College run by William Williams, set up in rivalry to the Dick Vet School set up by William Dick. He graduated in 1892 and then took up a role as a lecturer at the College. As was common at that time, Bradley also studied anatomy at Edinburgh University as an extramural subject at the same time as attending the college, a practice introduced by William Dick. This was done under the famous anatomist, Sir William Turner.
In 1900 he was offered the chair of Veterinary Anatomy at the Royal Dick Veterinary College, the foremost such college in Scotland. In 1911 he became its Principal.
In 1909 he founded the National Veterinary Medical Association, and was its first President. He was Vice-President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1912 and served as its President 1920-22.
He died on 21 November 1937.
See
Between 1893 and 1908 Bradley published 47 papers on scientific subjects, focusing upon anatomy and/or veterinary history.
He was the founder of the ’’Veterinary Review’’ in 1917 and its editor until 1920.