John Bradstreet Schuyler was born on July 12, 1765. He was the seventh child and eldest surviving son of the fifteen offspring of the marriage of Philip Schuyler and his wife, Catharina Van Rensselaer. He was named for his father's mentor, Colonel John Bradstreet.

"Bradstreet" grew up in colonial Albany's largest home and at his father's country estate in Saratoga. During the 1770s and 80s, he began to understand that he would have the opportunity to follow in his famous father's footsteps.

Already destined to receive substantial property near Albany, in 1783 he inherited a share in the Saratoga Patent. In 1787, he married Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, daughter of the deceased Patroon. That marriage produced but two children.

By that time, "Bradstreet" had taken over management of his father's estate at Saratoga. Prominently configured on the census of 1790, the twenty-five-year-old landlord's Saratoga household included twelve males over sixteen and fourteen slaves. The next year, he was elected supervisor and assessor of the town of Saratoga in newly formed Saratoga County. In 1794, he was elected to represent Saratoga in the New York State Assembly.

Just past his thirtieth birthday, John Bradstreet Schuyler died at Saratoga on August 19, 1795. The body was brought to Albany where his funeral the following day occasioned great interest. He was buried in the Van Rensselaer family vault.

Following "Bradstreet's" untimely death, the Schuylers never recovered their pre-eminent position in Albany society. However, his children were considered in the will filed by General Schuyler in 1804.