He studied law in Leiden and returned to become partner in the family company at the young age of 20, where he became editor of the Opregte Haarlemsche Courant.

On 25 March 1810, he married Catharina Hillegonda van Walré, (Haarlem, 16 August 1791 – Haarlem, 18 December 1845) the daughter of Jan van Walré and Maria Kops.

From this marriage was born on 20 November 1811 a son, Johannes Enschedé IV.

Like his father, he was a regent of the St. Elizabeth's-Gasthuis and the Hofje van Staats en Noblet.

Enschedé III continued his father's collection of art and books, but after his death these were auctioned by his heirs, much to the disappointment of his nephew Adriaan Justus Enschedé, who bought as much of the collection as he could.