Background
He was born in Horten to Jacob Kielland and his wife Thora Margrethe (1827–1902), née Bendz.
He was born in Horten to Jacob Kielland and his wife Thora Margrethe (1827–1902), née Bendz.
He enrolled in law studies in 1877, and graduated as candidate.jur. in 1882. He was hired in the Ministry of the Interior in 1883, became assistant secretary in 1898 and deputy under-secretary of State (third in rank behind the Minister and the State Secretary) in 1900. He retired in 1915.