He was the son of Thomas Bernard of Castle Bernard, Birr, King's County (now County Offaly), and his first wife, Mary, daughter of Jonathan Willington, of Castle Willington.
He commissioned the building of a new gothic mansion on the family estate named Kinnitty Castle.
He was then elected at the 1802 general election as a Member of Parliament (MP) for King's County (now County Offaly), holding the seat until 1833.
His estate passed to his eldest son Thomas, an army officer.
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