Bedford states, in his gossiping book of Recollections and Wanderings, that he was born in Bath, and entered upon the stage through the customary portal of amateur theatricals.

Two successive tours in Scotland with Madame Catalani followed, without breaking the Dublin engagement, which only ended when Bedford accepted an offer from Sir Henry Bishop for Drury Lane.

On the 10th of the same month Bedford played Bernhard, head ranger of the forest, in Soane's version of Der Freischütz, the fifth and the most successful adaptation of Weber's great opera which that year had achieved.

Through successive managements of Elliston, Price, Polhill and Lee, and lastly Bunn, Bedford kept a position chiefly due to his vocal capacity.

Recalling his singing in Adelphi farces, in a whole series of which he appeared, one is apt to forget that he obtained reputation in Lablache's great character of Don Pasquale.