Milford was born in
Exeter,
Devon, England, the eldest son of Samuel Frederick Milford, D.L., of Heavitree, Devonshire. He received his preliminary education at the High School, Exeter, and afterwards graduated M.A. at
St John's College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar at
Lincoln's Inn, London, and practised his profession for several years at
Bristol, where he held the appointment of judge of the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court.[2]
Owing to bad health, he was induced to seek an appointment in Australia. Through the influence of his cousin Sir
William Webb Follett, the then
Attorney-General of England, he was appointed Master in Equity of New South Wales, and left London in September 1842 for
Sydney.[2] He landed on 1 January 1843, and held the post of Master in Equity, together with that of Chief Commissioner of Insolvent Estates, until his appointment as Resident Judge in the district of Moreton Bay (now
Queensland) in January 1856.[2] Then he returned to Sydney in February 1859, and was a Supreme Court Judge till his death on 26 May 1865 in
Maitland, New South Wales.[1] He held also during this period the offices of Judge of the
Court of Vice-Admiralty and Primary Judge in Equity.[2]
Personal
Milford married Eliza Butler.[3] Their family included
Henry John Bede Milford (1 January 1833[6] – 29 February 1888), lawyer and politician. He married Catherine Charlotte Dick (1833 – 26 October 1884) c. May 1856. Their son Ernest Alexander Milford (19 December 1858 – 2 October 1942), was a lawyer in Queensland and New South Wales.
Sophia Milford married Albrecht Feez on 13 October 1857