He entered the world as the son of the composer Anders von Düben the Younger[3] and Ulrica Friedenreich.

Düben was elected as President of Privy Council Chancellery of Sweden in 1772, and was fired following the Coup of Gustav III.

Düben was initially close to the court, in 1762 came into fierce conflict with Fredrik Carl Sinclair, his favored competitor who held the queen's trust.

After an amendment to the constitution in 1766 which enabled the Riksdag to overcome such royal opposition, he was finally appointed to the Riksråd in 1766.

Re-elected to the Riksdag in 1772, as Chancellor and last head of government of the Age of Liberty, he was dismissed after Gustav III's coup and thereafter without political influence.