He was born to Edward Birmingham and Elly Bell[REF] and grew up on the Millbrook Estate outside Milltown, County Galway and was educated at St. Jarlath's College in Tuam.
He inherited part of the Millbrook estate, which was scattered across Galway and Mayo, in 1865, and settled at Millbrook House with two elderly aunts and a maternal uncle, Arthur Bell, who assisted him in his research.