CW Leadbeater (1854-1934) was a most remarkable – not to say bizarre – man. Of middle-class background, he was ordained an Anglican clergyman in 1879; three years later he was a curate at Bramshott in Hampshire. He might have remained there indefinitely, but a short time after moving there, the young cleric discovered first spiritualism and then Theosophy, joining the Theosophical Society in 1883, and meeting its foundress Helena Blavatsky the following year.
Convinced that he was in touch with an “Ascended Master”, he moved to the society’s headquarters in Adyar, India, shortly thereafter. From then on he became very involved in the affairs of the society, moving back and forth between Britain, India and Australia, where he finally settled.
