His noble title (af) was added already in 1799, as he was the son of a bishop.
He studied at the Uppsala University and eventually became professor there in 1810. In 1818 he was ordained priest and on July 8, 1818 he became bishop of Gothenburg.
From all reports, he seems to have been a humanistic teacher and professor, gentle and caring, especially towards students.
He worked against the alcoholism among priests, and was one of those behind the Sober Society (Nykterhetssällskapet) of Gothenburg established in 1830.
