His father had studied watch-making in Aalborg but moved to Copenhagen in 1806 where he became the manager and eventually owner of a large clock and instrument business.

After his father's death, Langgaard apprenticed as a watchmaker on Rugen and then moved to Copenhagen where he was employed in Urban Jürgensen.

This happened after he had completed studies at Frederiksberg Hospital's Department of Surgery and carried out a successful experiment on a young, hunchbacked girl.

He also created a strongman game called The Bull's Head (Tyrehovedet) for Tivoli Gardens as well as a number of other rides for Dyrehavsbakken and other amusement parks.

He also obtained a number of other patents, for instance on steam-pipe kettles (rørdampkedler) and inventions related to his interest in the clay industry.