Bird was born in Bloomsbury in Bethlehem Township, New Jersey on August 16, 1829.

[1] He attended the public schools, and a classical academy at Hackettstown, New Jersey.

He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1855 and commenced practice in Bloomsbury, New Jersey.

After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law in Flemington.

Bird was vice chancellor of New Jersey from 1882 to 1896 and master in chancery from 1900 to 1909.