Caradoc (Cradock), John Francis (1759–1839), soldier and politician, was born 11 August 1759 in Dublin, the only son of John Cradock (1708–78), a native of Wolverhampton, bishop of Kilmore (1757–72) and archbishop of Dublin (1772–8), and his wife Mary, daughter of William Blaydwin of Boston, Lincolnshire, and widow of Richard St George. Educated initially at the Rev. Richard Norris's school in Drogheda, he entered TCD (31 October 1774); St John's College, Cambridge (13 March 1775), graduating MA (1777); and the Middle Temple (9 February 1776). He purchased a cornetcy in the 4th Dragoons (15 December 1777), exchanging into the Coldstream Guards in 1779, where he became a friend of the prince of Wales. From 1784 to about 1791 he was ADC to successive lords lieutenant of Ireland. By 1789 he was a lieutenant-colonel, and commanded the 13th Foot when they were sent to the West Indies in 1790. He left the West Indies in 1791 on being appointed acting quartermaster-general in Ireland, but returned in 1793 commanding the 2nd battalion of the Grenadier Guards. He distinguished himself in the West Indies campaign and was appointed ADC to Sir Charles Grey, the expedition commander. Wounded at the taking of Martinique (1794), he received the thanks of parliament for his distinguished service, was promoted colonel, and in September 1796 was appointed quartermaster-general in Ireland. Promoted major-general in January 1798, he was present at the battle of Vinegar Hill (21 June 1798) and the retaking of Wexford town under Gen. Gerard Lake (qv). He was attached to the army of Cornwallis (qv) that tracked the French invasion force in September 1798, and was wounded in the shoulder and briefly captured at the battle of Ballinamuck, Co. Longford (8 September 1798), when, under the mistaken impression that the entire Franco–Irish force had surrendered, he advanced to accept their surrender.
He was MP for Clogher, Co. Tyrone (1785–90), Castlebar, Co. Mayo (1790–97), Midleton, Co. Cork (1799–1800) and Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny (May–August 1800); he voted with the government and was a strong supporter of the act of union, voting for it in 1799 and 1800. On 18 February 1800 he acted as second to Isaac Corry (qv), chancellor of the Irish exchequer, in his duel with Henry Grattan (qv), and prevented a sheriff's officer from interfering by depositing him in a ditch. Afterwards he was appointed to the staff of Sir Ralph Abercromby (qv) in the Mediterranean. He distinguished himself in the Egyptian campaign, becoming second-in-command, was present at the taking of Cairo (27 June 1801), and was made KB (1803). On 21 December 1803 he became commander-in-chief at Madras in India and in 1805 was promoted lieutenant-general. His efforts in July 1806 to introduce new army regulations in Madras contributed to a mutiny at Vellore; he was recalled in 1807, but acquitted of any wrongdoing by a military inquiry. Appointed to a garrison post in Ireland, he resigned and applied for active service, and in December 1808 was given command of British troops in Portugal. It was an unhappy assignment: half of his 10,000 troops were unfit for service and he received conflicting instructions from Whitehall and the Portuguese regency; he was replaced by Sir Arthur Wellesley (qv) (later duke of Wellington) in April 1809. Although promised the governorship of Gibraltar, he was not appointed, and ever afterwards believed he had been poorly treated. Appointed governor of the Cape of Good Hope (1811–14), he bolstered the Cape's defences, implemented important land reforms, and founded the town of Cradock. After 1815 he retired to Grimston Park, Yorkshire. He was created GCB (January 1815) and Wellington used his influence to have him created Baron Howden in the Irish peerage (19 October 1819). At the coronation of William IV he was made a British peer (10 September 1831) and changed his name by royal licence to Caradoc (19 December 1831), claiming descent from Caractacus, an ancient king of the Britons. He voted in favour of the 1832 reform act. He died 26 July 1839 at 13 Hertford St., Park Lane, London, and was buried at Kensal Green.
On 17 November 1798 he married Lady Theodosia Sarah Frances Meade, daughter of John, 1st earl of Clanwilliam and of his wife Theodosia Meade (qv), countess of Clanwilliam; they had one son – John Hobart Caradoc (qv), a diplomat – and two daughters.