[1][2] During 1730 (at the age of 12), he became a servant in the household of his uncle, Eiler Hagerup d.e., the bishop of the Diocese of Nidaros.

Here was also taught by his older cousin Hans Hagerup Gyldenpalm, who later became the Amtmann for Lister og Mandals amt.

He spent time studying theology in Copenhagen and graduated with a Magister degree in 1740.

In 1756, he relocated to the city of Arendal to serve as the parish priest and he stayed there for a long time.

He served in Bergen from 1774 until 1778 when he was appointed to be the Bishop of the Diocese of Christianssand, an assignment he had until his death on 27 March 1789.