Background
He was born in Førde, but the family soon moved to Lærdal.
He was born in Førde, but the family soon moved to Lærdal.
As a military officer he became a lieutenant in 1845, and later colonel. He eventually settled in Vik, where he worked with post services, bank administration and breeding of farm animals, importing Leicester sheep from England. As a politician he was mayor of Vik from 1858 to 1861 and 1866 to 1873.
He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament in 1862 and 1865.