The owner of Harridslevgaard on Funen, he was the father of prime minister Carl Emil Bardenfleth.
In 1786, he was part of his uncle Poul de Løvenørn's expedition to Greenland in search of Østerbygden.
During the Battle of Copenhagen, he served as second-in-command of the defensive barge (defensionsprammen) Charlotta Amalie.
[1] In 1806, with rank of captain lieutenant, Bardenfleth was created kammerjunker and appointed as governor for Ferdinand, Hereditary Prince of Denmark.
[1] Bardenfleth married on 16 April 1799 im Vejle to Augusta Wilhelmine Hellfried (16 November 1775 - 23 December 1861).