[1] Eneström received a Bachelor of Science (filosofie kandidat) degree from Uppsala university in 1871, received a position at Uppsala University Library in 1875, and at the National Library of Sweden in 1879.

From 1884 to 1914, he was the publisher of the mathematical-historical journal Bibliotheca Mathematica, which he had founded and partially funded with his own means.

With Soichi Kakeya, he is known for the Eneström-Kakeya theorem[2] which determines an annulus containing the roots of a real polynomial.

Sarton went on: "the very presence of Eneström obliged every scholar devoting himself to the history of mathematics to increase his circumspection and improve his work.

"[3] Eneström has also developed an election method similar to Phragmen's voting rules.