Love was commissioned into the 52nd Regiment of Foot in 1804 and took part in the retreat to Corunna and the Battle of Bussaco during the Peninsular War. He was wounded at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and saved Bristol during the riots of 1831. He was appointed British resident at Zakynthos in 1835, Lieutenant Governor of Jersey in 1852 and General Officer Commanding South-Eastern District in 1856 before becoming Inspector-General of Infantry in 1857.