He was the only son of Sir Joseph Birch, 1st Baronet and his wife Elizabeth Mary, third daughter of Benjamin Heywood.
[2] Birch was educated at Rugby School and went then to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1813 and a Master of Arts three years later.
[3] In 1817, he was called to the bar by Lincoln's Inn and in 1833, he succeeded his father as baronet.
[5] He was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1841 and served as a Deputy Lieutenant for that county.
[4] In 1847, he entered the British House of Commons, sitting for Liverpool until 1852.