General John Francis Cradock, 1st Baron Howden GCB (11 August 1759 – 26 July 1839) was a British Army officer, politician and colonial administrator.

[2] In 1777, he was appointed a cornet in the 4th Regiment of Horse, which in 1779 he exchanged to become an ensign in the Coldstream Guards, and in 1781 he was promoted a lieutenant with the rank of captain.

In 1801 he was on the staff in the Mediterranean under Sir Ralph Abercromby, seeing action several times and serving as second-in-command of a division in the field.

After the surrender of Cairo and Alexandria, at which he was present, he was despatched with a force to occupy Corsica and Naples, but was recalled en route after the Peace of Amiens was signed.

In 1811 he was appointed Governor of the Cape Colony and commander of the forces on that station, resigning in 1814 and being succeeded by Lord Charles Somerset.