[3][4][5] Born in Blandsfort House, Queen's County, Ireland, and the third son of John Bland and Elizabeth née Birch, daughter of Robert Birch, Bland was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1825, and a Master of Arts in 1829.
He was called to the Irish Bar in 1829, becoming a member of the Queen's Counsel in 1854.
[6] In 1840, he married Charlotte Elizabeth Grove Annesley, daughter of Arthur Grove Annesley and Elizabeth née Mahon, and they had at least one child: John Loftus Bland (1841–1908).
[2] He became an Independent Irish Party Member of Parliament (MP) for King's County at the 1852 general election and, becoming a Whig in 1857, held the seat until 1859, when he unsuccessfully stood as a Liberal.
[2][3][6] In 1862, Bland became chairman of the County Cavan Quarter Sessions.