He was born in Stavanger to Jacob Kielland and Axeliane Christine (1792–1855), née Zetlitz.
[2] Janna died after giving birth to the eighth child[4] In July 1863, Jens Zetlitz Kielland married Inger Mæle (1815–1887).
[2] Jens Zetzlitz Kielland was qualified for university, but did not take to his studies and returned home to work in his father's business.
He did not take to business either, but did serve as the vice consul for Portugal from 1837 and as a director of the Stavanger Sparebank.
His interests lay in the creative side, in painting, music and ivory carving.