Career
He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War. Birch was of Birch Hall Manchester. He was a colonel in parliamentary army and active supporter of the parliamentary cause.
He was governor of Liverpool from 1644 to 1655.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Liverpool in the First Protectorate Parliament in 1654 and was re-elected Member of Parliament for Liverpool again in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament. He retired from public service at the Restoration.
Birch died at the age of 70.