[2] His grandfather was physician Hans Møller (1736–1796), the member of the family who moved from their native Denmark to Norway.
[3] Møller started higher education in 1820, but did not complete; instead he eventually settled in Porsgrund as a merchant.
As his two sons too became involved in these organizations, a fraction led by J. J. L. Schaaning sounded opposition toward the "Møllerian autocracy".
His son Jacob was employed as treasurer, and took over as manager when Hans Eleonardus Møller died in 1867.
[4] Hans Eleonardus Møller was also active in politics, as an elected member of the Norwegian Parliament in 1845, 1851 and 1857–1858,[6] representing the constituency of Bratsberg.