by Mike Matzinger
Hamilton Bradley (c. 1902 – August 28, 1976) was a pioneering African American Scout and the earliest known Black Eagle Scout in Scouting America history. Born in Maryland to Walter and Caroline Bradley, he was the oldest of four children and grew up with a strong sense of duty and community that would shape his life.
Bradley earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1919 at the age of 17, with his court of honor held on December 19 at Rome Free Academy in New York. He was one of the first five Eagle Scouts in the Rome Council, alongside Marlow Abrams and Madison Jackson. Known for his skill and dedication, Bradley was selected to represent New York at the Eastern States Exposition in Massachusetts in 1920, where he demonstrated Scout skills including fire building, signal tower construction, and outdoor cooking.
Following his youth in Scouting, Bradley remained actively involved, serving as an assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 2 in Rome, New York. His early engagement in Scouting helped foster leadership skills and a commitment to service that endured throughout his life.
Bradley married Aurelia P. Staples of North Carolina on December 24, 1925. The couple had two children, Martin and Sonia. Professionally, he worked as a stock clerk, night clerk at the YMCA, and later as a station agent for the New York City Board of Transportation. He was also a member of the Church of the Nativity and a grand knight in the Knights of Columbus.
Hamilton Bradley passed away on August 28, 1976, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in Pennsylvania. His legacy as a trailblazer in Scouting and as the earliest documented Black Eagle Scout continues to inspire Scouts and historians alike, highlighting the longstanding contributions of African Americans to Scouting and community leadership.