A jurist by education, he was a member of the Norwegian Parliament for five terms, and held several different government posts from 1874 to 1884.

He was born on 14 July 1821, in Tromsøe, the son of Michael Wide Holmboe (1791–1863) and his wife Anna Rasch Schjelderup (1794–1878).

in 1845, and was appointed as bailiff (foged) and district stipendiary magistrate (sorenskriver) in the northern city of Hammerfest in 1856.

He left on 30 September the same year, only to become member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm the next day.

On 1 September 1879, he was appointed Minister of Finance and Customs for the second time, a position he held until 31 August the next year.

On 1 November 1880, he became Minister of Church and Education again, leaving exactly one year later, and with a short hiatus in September 1881.

[4] He was elected for one final term in Parliament in 1889, representing the constituency Smaalenenes Amt.