After Busfeild's mother inherited her brother's considerable property, in 1839 he took the additional surname of Ferrand by sign-manual in compliance with the requirements of his uncle's will.
He dropped the name of Busfeild in 1854 after he succeeded to his mother's estate, which included Harden Grange and Bingley St Ives.
Busfeild entered public life in 1833 and unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for Bradford in the 1837 general election.
He remained active, opposing the Anti-Corn Law League, and was elected in 1841 to represent Knaresborough.
His second marriage in 1847 lead to him resuming his political career in 1850, and he unsuccessfully contested the Aylesbury by-election in 1851.