Jean-Baptiste Christophe Ernest Bradfer (29 March 1833 – 9 June 1882) was a French iron master and politician who was active in local politics in Bar-le-Duc, Meuse.

[2] Ernest was educated in Nancy, Bar-le-Duc, Paris and then Strasbourg.

In 1859 they partnered with the ironmaster Joseph-Bernard Viry and his son Louis to open a foundry and blast furnace in Bar-le-Duc.

In 1876 they joined with Antoine Aubin Durenne, who owned the patent for the Lavril pipe connector, and founded "Bradfer et fils & Cie A.A.

In 1886 a statue of Bradfer by Onésyme-Aristide Croisy was erected, surrounded by four lions.