Brady was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1883. In 1889, he was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal church, and was ordained a priest in 1890. His first wife was Clarissa Guthrie, who died in 1890. His second wife was Mary Barrett. Brady's first major book, For Love of Country, whilst telling the story of a fictitious John Seymour, was actually based in part on the true heroics of Nicholas Biddle, one of the first five captains of the fledgling Continental Navy. Brady was also famous for his views of feminism and Women's suffrage, he preached many anti-suffrage sermons and described women voters as "an insult to God". In 1914 Brady began working as a screenwriter at Vitagraph Company of America.

YARNS OF THE FORECASTLE: Most of us have passed through a period of life during which we have ardently longed to be, if not actually a rover, a buccaneer, or a pirate, at least and really a sailor!