Woodforde was born in Somerset, a son of Dr John Woodforde and his wife Harriet. He gained his medical qualifications in 1832 and sailed for South Australia aboard Rapid, one of the "First Fleet of South Australia", as surgeon to the survey party brought out by Colonel Light, arriving in August, 1836. He continued to practice after the survey party dissolved, with his surgery on Hindley Street "opposite the old Blenheim Hotel". He succeeded to the post of City Coroner with the death of George Stevenson JP. He remained Light's personal physician, and with Dr. Edward Wright attended him in his final illness, and was one of his pallbearers. He was in 1844 one of the founding members of the Medical Board of South Australia, and from 1849 to 1852 a medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital, resigning to concentrate on his private practice. In 1847 he was one of the 65 proprietors of what became St Peter's College. At least two of his sons, however, were students at J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution. He died aged around 57, leaving a widow Caroline and five children. It is not likely that the Adelaide suburb of Woodforde was named in his honour.
Family
Woodforde married Caroline Carter on 18 August 1837. Carter arrived aboard Isabella in February 1837, having befriended the Hack family on the voyage. Their eight children included:
William John Woodforde married Margaret Theresa Lennon on 20 July 1868. He was a member of Stuart's 1862 expedition but was dismissed for insubordination on account of his refusal to be parted with his greatcoat. Another issue was Woodforde's keeping a personal diary, contrary to Stuart's instructions.
Frank Dudley Woodforde was a prize-winning student at AEI 1854–1862 and was employed by the National Bank, later practiced as accountant. He married Jane Beckett in 1873, had five sons.
Meliora Woodforde married Robert Cussen on 10 January 1872
George Woodforde was a prize-winning student at AEI 1860–1864. He moved to Victoria, married Elizabeth Ann Forman in 1893, died at St Kilda
Further genealogical information may be found at the Woodforde had a home on Hindley Street before moving to his property in North Adelaide.
Journal
Extensive extracts from Dr. Woodforde's "Cygnet" Journal were published in 1894 by the Port Augusta Dispatch
