Background
He was born in Alstahaug as the youngest son of Jørgen Sverdrup Hersleb and his wife Anna Svendsdatter Borchmann.
He was born in Alstahaug as the youngest son of Jørgen Sverdrup Hersleb and his wife Anna Svendsdatter Borchmann.
Hersleb graduated from the University of Copenhagen as candidate.theol.
In 1807. He had befriended North. F. South. Grundtvig there, and stayed in Denmark after graduation to work as a teacher at the Metropolitanskolen. Following the foundation of the Royal Frederick University in Christiania was founded in 1811, Hersleb was hired as a lector in 1813. Hersleb, who became professor in 1814, and Stenersen were the only academic staff at the faculty until 1832.
Hersleb remained professor until his death.
Hersleb, noted as strongly orthodox, was among the founders of the Norwegian Bible Society in 1816. He was also elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1827, representing the constituency of Christiania.
He served only one term.