He enrolled as a student in 1837 and graduated as cand.mag. in 1837. He worked as a teacher in Christiania before moving to Fredrikshald in 1852.[1] While living here he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1857, representing the constituency of Fredrikshald.[3]
In 1862 he was hired as a school principal in Bergen.[1] He was elected from his city to the Norwegian Parliament in 1865, 1868, 1871 and 1874.[3] He served as mayor of Bergen from 1867 to 1868 and 1873 to 1875.[4]