He succeeded his father in 1496 and was knighted after taking part in the Earl of Surrey’s Scottish campaign of 1497.
He was appointed sheriff and escheator for county Durham for 1503-16, 1523-7 and jointly with his son Sir John Bulmer for 1527-9.
He also served as a member of the council of 4th Earl of Shrewsbury in 1522 and as lieutenant of the Eastern March and Norham Castle, Northumberland in 1523.
[1] In 1520 he accompanied Henry VIII with other knights to his meeting with Francis I of France at the Field of the Cloth of Gold.
He was succeeded by Sir John, who was executed in 1537 for his part in the northern rebellion.