He was the son of
General Sir Robert Gardiner and Caroline Mary Macleod. He was born at his grandfather Lieutenant General
Sir John Macleod's house in
St James's Park. He was educated at the
Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, entering the Royal Artillery in 1837, and subsequently serving in Canada and in India. The Queen granted him use of
Thatched House Lodge in
Richmond Park as a
grace and favour residence. From 1896 to 1897 he was
King of Arms of the Order of the Bath and Commandant of the Horse Artillery. ==Surviving photograph and diaries==