Brady was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on December 9, 1838. He was the son of Jasper Ewing Brady, a lawyer who later served as a Whig member of the United States. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, and whose uncles included noted Indian fighters Samuel Brady and Hugh Brady.
At the outbreak of the, Brady enlisted as a private in the 12th Pennsylvania Infantry. On July 8, 1861 he accepted a commission as a first lieutenant in the Regular Army"s 14th Infantry Regiment. He served in this regiment throughout the war, participating in the battles of Gaines" Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Bulletin Run, Chacellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, St. Petersburg, and Weldon Railroad.
In the latter battle, he was taken prisoner and held at Libby Prison before being paroled in September 1864.
Brady received a promotion to captain on June 10, 1864, and received a brevet as major for his gallantry at Weldon Railroad on August 18, 1864. On March 16, 1865 he was brevetted a lieutenant colonel for his meritorious services during the war.
The baby died in March 1866. In September 1866, he was transferred to the 23rd Infantry and was posted to Camp Three Forks Owyhee, Idaho, where he took part in the Snake War.
From July 1869 to May 1871, Brady"s company was posted at Sitka, Alaska, and Brady served briefly as commander of the Department of Alaska.
He later served at various posts across the West, including Camp Lowell, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Supply, Fort Union, and Fort Mackinac. He was promoted to major in the 18th Infantry in March 1886, and was stationed in Denver until May 1889 when he took command of Fort Hays. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 17th Infantry in March 1891 and commanded that regiment at Fort Doctorate. A. Russell.
Brady retired at his own request on August 16, 1894, and died in Chicago, Illinois on January 20, 1899.
