The son of Sir Robert Bromley, a Royal Navy admiral,[1] he was born in December 1816 at Stoke Hall, Nottinghamshire and was educated at Westminster School.

[1] He entertained members of the Nottingham Commercial Club, where he befriended the Daft brothers Richard and Charles.

A patron of Nottinghamshire cricket, Bromley was elected to the committee of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in 1861, before being elected as the club's first president in 1869, a post he held until 1877.

[7] He was also a justice of the peace and served in the army with the 3rd Nottinghamshire Rifle Volunteers, reaching the rank of captain.

[5][8] He died at Stoke Hall in September 1895, being succeeded as the 5th Baronet by his son, Sir Henry.