Józef Polikarp Brudziński was born on January 26, 1874 in Bolewo near Mława (which in the 19th century was in the Russian Empire) in a noble family with patriotic traditions. He was one of the six children of Feliks Brudziński and Cecylia nee Myślińska. In 1891 Brudziński finished middle school in Warsaw and started to study medicine at Warsaw Imperial University. Due to the high degree of Russification in Warsaw University after the first semester Brudziński (on January 1892) moved to Dorpat (currently Tartu in Estonia) and continued the medical study at the university there. During the study Brudziński got involved with social and patriotic activity in the Polish student association. One of his friends from university mentioned Brudziński in the following words: “he was a great patriot… He was a distinguished character… He was characterized by above-average intelligence, erudition and nobility”. In 1894 Brudziński moved to Moscow, where he was noticed by professors for his diligence and brilliance. He also continued his patriotic activity and during his studies in Moscow met Józef Piłsudski – one of the later creators of an independent Poland.