Career
Harboe was mostly educated in Germany. He was sent to Iceland in 1741 to inspect the state of the church there on behalf of the Danish church. He initiated some reforms there and while there (in 1743) was appointed to the post of Bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros.
After returning to Copenhagen in 1745, he was consecrated as Bishop and soon left for Trondheim, the seat of his new diocese.
He arrived in Trondheim on 1 July 1746 and served there for two more years before leaving the post and returning to Copenhagen. He served there until his death in 1783.