He was born in 1831 on Marselisborg Manor in Aarhus, owned by his parents Caspar Peder Rothe Ingerslev and Marie Meulengracht.

[1] Hans Peter Ingerslev graduated from the Cathedral School in Aarhus in 1849 and in 1864 he inherited Marselisborg Manor from his father.

In 1873, Ingerslev was elected to the Danish Folketing for Højre, a predecessor for the Conservative People's Party, and he served for two terms; from 1873 to 1876 and from 1879 to 1884.

[2] During his tenure as Minister of the Interior, Ingerslev accomplished laws related to social services, pensions and healthcare.

Shortly before he died in 1896, Ingerslev signed a sales agreement with Aarhus City Council which bought Marselisborg Manor the year after.