He was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Revd Henry Crofton and Frances ffolliott.
In 1832 he was appointed interpreter under Brigadier-General Litchfield for a military campaign in a lawless area of north-west India.
In 1846, by now promoted Major, he was posted to North America in charge of an expedition to the Red River settlement in Prince Rupert's Land.
The Hudson's Bay Company had requested military assistance to protect the settlers from American incursions in the event of war over the Oregon Territory.
[2] By the time the regiment arrived the Oregon crisis had been resolved and the troops undertook policing operations against illegal fur traders.