Bradley was born in Chicago and moved to Rogers City, Michigan, in 1910 where he attended the public schools and graduated from Rogers City High School. He attended Montclair Academy in Montclair, New Jersey, and in 1918 joined the United States Army for World War I. Bradley served in the Student Army Training Corps at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York.

He graduated from Cornell University in 1921. His father was president of the Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company, and Bradley worked for the company as a salesman in Buffalo, New York, from 1921 to 1923. He was a purchasing agent with Bradley Transportation Company in Rogers City, Michigan from 1924 to 1938.

In 1938, Bradley was the successful Republican nominee to represent Michigan's 11th congressional district, defeating incumbent Democrat John Luecke. He was reelected four times and served from January 3, 1939, until his death. He was chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the 80th Congress. With his longtime interest in Great Lakes shipping, Bradley was the legislative sponsor behind the construction of the Round Island Passage Light.

Bradley died in New London, Connecticut, on May 24, 1947, while there to attend a meeting of the United States Coast Guard Academy board of visitors. He was interred at Rogers City Memorial Park.

In 1922, Bradley married Marcia Marie Hillidge of Front Royal, Virginia. They were the parents of a son, Carl, who died in 1938 at the age of two.

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–1949)

• United States Congress. "Frederick Van Ness Bradley (id: B000742)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard
• Frederick Van Ness Bradley, Late a Representative from Michigan. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 1950.