John Fowler Bradford was born in London on 28 Feb 1805, the son of Captain Edmund Chapman Bradford EICS. He arrived in India in September 1821 and was posted to the 1st BLC. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 May 1824 and appointed Interpreter and Quartermaster from 1825 to 1832. With the rank of captain he fought in several battles in Afghanistan when the regiment was part of General Pollock’s army. In the Gwalior campaign he gained a star for his part in the battle of Maharajpore. He was promoted to major on 4 April 1844 and commanded the regiment at Aliwal in the First Sikh War of 1845-6, then in the Second Sikh War of 1848-49 he commanded them at the crossing of the Chenab, and battles of Chilianwalla and Gujarat.
He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 20 Oct 1852 and officially appointed to command the 1st BLC until his promotion to Colonel on 20 June 1854. After the Mutiny he was appointed to the command of the Meerut Division with the rank of Brigadier-General on 14 May 1858. He had been appointed CB on 9 June 1849, elevated to KCB on 20 May 1871. His promotion to major-general came on 23 July 1858, to lieutenant-general on 25 June 1870 and General on 19 Dec 1876. He retired on 31 Dec 1877, returning to England. He was married to Eliza Martha Maria, daughter of Sir William Ouseley Kt. They lived at 40 Norfolk Sq, London. Eliza died on 18 Jan 1875 and General Sir John Bradford KCB died on 11 April 1889.
