Background
He was born in Christiania, and was the brother of Carl Peter Parelius Essendrop.
He was born in Christiania, and was the brother of Carl Peter Parelius Essendrop.
He was a vicar in Søndre Throndhjems Amt by occupation. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1862, 1865, 1871 and 1874, representing his county. He served as President of the Lagting during the third term, and President of the Storting from 1874.
He was originally among the prominent liberals, a group which also included Johan Sverdrup, Johannes Steen and Ole Richter, but later became more moderate/conservative.
After he became dean in the diocese of Trondhjem, he was elected from the constituency of Trondhjem og Levanger in 1877 and 1880. Essendrop also served as praeses of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters from 1874 to 1883.
He died in March 1891.