Charles Webster Leadbeater (Manchester, February 16, 1854 - Perth, March 1, 1934) was an influential member of the Theosophical Society, author of occult books, and co-founder with James Ingall Wedgwood of the Liberal Catholic Church. Originally a clergyman in the Church of England, his interest in spiritualism caused him to disaffiliate from the Church in favor of the Theosophical Society, where he associated with Annie Besant. He became a high-ranking officer of the Society, but resigned in 1906. He then remained a prolific author of major occultism within the Society, until his death in 1934.