Dan Beach Bradley
Encyclopedia
Dan Beach Bradley M.D.
(18 July 1804 – 23 June 1873) was an American
Protestant missionary
to Siam
from 1835 until his death. He is credited with numerous firsts, including bringing the first Thai-script printing press to Siam, publishing the first Thai newspaper and monolingual Thai dictionary, and introducing Western medicine.
, the son of Judge Dan Bradley of Whitehall, New York, and Eunice Beach, who died soon after giving birth to her son. Dedicated to serve the Lord during a revival season, he studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons
in New York City, in the hope of being able to work as a medical missionary.
In November 1832, he was accepted as a missionary physician by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
(ABCFM). He graduated with his M.D. in April 1833, and in 1834 he married Emilie Royce after a brief mail courtship, before setting sail together for Siam. Emilie, like Bradley, wanted to serve the Lord as a missionary among the "heathen".
missionaries set off with prayer and hymn singing on their voyage to Asia. After six arduous months, the Bradleys arrived at Singapore but it was a further six months before they could make their way to Siam. They finally reached Bangkok on 18 July 1835.
Emilie had never been well from the beginning of their service in Siam. In August 1845, she died of tuberculosis. On her deathbed she had a vision of the glory of God and died with her love of Jesus unbroken.
During his first few years Bradley suffered from chronic diarrhoea, but later he enjoyed 30 years of almost unbroken good health. He established a daily routine of cold baths, plain food and total abstinence from intoxicating beverages. A healthy variety of cares enabled him to find rest by turning from one task to another. Always there was Bible reading, hymn singing, prayer and family worship.
ism, that freedom from sin is attainable while still living on this earth. The ABCFM regarded this as heresy and recalled him to America. On December 4, 1847, he had to resign, leaving his Siam mission without support.
In January 1848 he became associated with the American Missionary Association
(AMA). While in America trying to raise funds for his mission, he met Sarah Blachly, who became his second wife on 1 October 1848. At the end of October 1849, they set sail for Siam and after a voyage even more difficult than the first, he was able to resume his vocation in Bangkok by the end of May 1850. This would be his only time away from Siam during his 35 years in the country.
The AMA only gave limited support, so much of his time in Bangkok had to be spent making money to support his mission. Donations received in respect of medical services rendered (which were gratuitous) were also put to that purpose.
and Chulalongkorn
and in American consular affairs and, above all, as a pioneer in the introduction of Western medicine to Siam where the introduction of vaccination against smallpox was among his most memorable achievements.
He founded the first ever newspaper in Siam, the Bangkok Recorder, which was published monthly 1844-1845, and again 1865-1867. He also printed the annual almanac Bangkok Calendar from 1859 till his death.
.
In 1981, Bangkok Christian Hospital began construction on a new 13-story edifice named in Bradley's honor: Mo Bradley Building . It officially opened on August 3, 1987.
].
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(18 July 1804 – 23 June 1873) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Protestant missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Siam
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
from 1835 until his death. He is credited with numerous firsts, including bringing the first Thai-script printing press to Siam, publishing the first Thai newspaper and monolingual Thai dictionary, and introducing Western medicine.
Early life
Dan Beach Bradley was born on 18 July 1804 at Marcellus, New YorkMarcellus (town), New York
Marcellus is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 6,319 at the 2000 census. The town was probably named after Marcus Claudius Marcellus, a Roman general, by a clerk interested in the Classics....
, the son of Judge Dan Bradley of Whitehall, New York, and Eunice Beach, who died soon after giving birth to her son. Dedicated to serve the Lord during a revival season, he studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
in New York City, in the hope of being able to work as a medical missionary.
In November 1832, he was accepted as a missionary physician by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
(ABCFM). He graduated with his M.D. in April 1833, and in 1834 he married Emilie Royce after a brief mail courtship, before setting sail together for Siam. Emilie, like Bradley, wanted to serve the Lord as a missionary among the "heathen".
Mission to Siam
On 2 July 1834, the Bradleys and a company of ABCFM and BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
missionaries set off with prayer and hymn singing on their voyage to Asia. After six arduous months, the Bradleys arrived at Singapore but it was a further six months before they could make their way to Siam. They finally reached Bangkok on 18 July 1835.
Emilie had never been well from the beginning of their service in Siam. In August 1845, she died of tuberculosis. On her deathbed she had a vision of the glory of God and died with her love of Jesus unbroken.
During his first few years Bradley suffered from chronic diarrhoea, but later he enjoyed 30 years of almost unbroken good health. He established a daily routine of cold baths, plain food and total abstinence from intoxicating beverages. A healthy variety of cares enabled him to find rest by turning from one task to another. Always there was Bible reading, hymn singing, prayer and family worship.
From ABCFM to AMA
Bradley's service was interrupted by his espousal of the controversial doctrine of Christian PerfectionChristian perfection
Christian perfection, also known as perfect love; heart purity; the baptism of the Holy Spirit; the fullness of the blessing; Christian holiness; the second blessing; and entire sanctification, is a Christian doctrine which holds that the heart of the regenerant Christian may attain a state of...
ism, that freedom from sin is attainable while still living on this earth. The ABCFM regarded this as heresy and recalled him to America. On December 4, 1847, he had to resign, leaving his Siam mission without support.
In January 1848 he became associated with the American Missionary Association
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on September 3, 1846 in Albany, New York. The main purpose of this organization was to abolish slavery, to educate African Americans, to promote racial equality, and to promote Christian values...
(AMA). While in America trying to raise funds for his mission, he met Sarah Blachly, who became his second wife on 1 October 1848. At the end of October 1849, they set sail for Siam and after a voyage even more difficult than the first, he was able to resume his vocation in Bangkok by the end of May 1850. This would be his only time away from Siam during his 35 years in the country.
The AMA only gave limited support, so much of his time in Bangkok had to be spent making money to support his mission. Donations received in respect of medical services rendered (which were gratuitous) were also put to that purpose.
Accomplishments
Despite many years of preaching and distributing tracts, Bradley barely succeeded in converting one single person to Christianity. His main successes were in the fields of printing and publishing, in his influence with Kings MongkutMongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
and Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
and in American consular affairs and, above all, as a pioneer in the introduction of Western medicine to Siam where the introduction of vaccination against smallpox was among his most memorable achievements.
He founded the first ever newspaper in Siam, the Bangkok Recorder, which was published monthly 1844-1845, and again 1865-1867. He also printed the annual almanac Bangkok Calendar from 1859 till his death.
Death and legacy
Bradley died on June 23, 1873, a few weeks shy of his 69th birthday. He is buried in the Bangkok Protestant CemeteryBangkok Protestant Cemetery
The Bangkok Protestant Cemetery is a cemetery catering mainly to the foreign community in Bangkok. To date, the cemetery has over 1800 interments, and it is still accepting burials on a limited basis...
.
In 1981, Bangkok Christian Hospital began construction on a new 13-story edifice named in Bradley's honor: Mo Bradley Building . It officially opened on August 3, 1987.
].
External links
- อักขราภิธานศัพท์ Dictionary of the Siamese Language at SEAlang.net (DjVu) http://www.sealang.net/archives/
- Biography by Derick Garnier