Edward Sandford served in the First Foot Guards and reached the rank of captain and lieutenant-colonel in February 1748. In 1761 he held the rank of major-general. He was Colonel to four regiments:
1758 Colonel of the 66th Foot, 21 April
1758 Colonel of the 52nd Foot, 7 June
1760 Colonel of the 26th Foot, 27 Nov
1763 Colonel of the 10th Foot, 14 Jan
Sandford was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1770. The colonelcy of the 10th was his last appointment which he held until his death in 1781. The portrait was painted in 1769 by Thomas Hickey.
