He was a co-founder and co-owner of Den Norske Hesteskosømfabrik,[1] one of the larger industrial companies in Christiania, located next to Akerselva and Hjula Væverier (owned by relatives).
[2] He grew up in Skien and was the son of shipowner and bank director Christopher Blom Paus and Danish-born Mine Ernst; his father started his business career working for his older brother Knud Ibsen when Knud established himself as a timber merchant in Skien in 1825.
In 1881, he established Den Norske Hesteskosømfabrik with his brothers Ole and Christian Paus, which became one of the larger industrial companies in Christiania.
In 1885, the company purchased the former Foss Spinderi (Foss Spinning Mill) from Thorvald Meyer and co-owners and had factory facilities at Thorvald Meyers gate 1 by the Akerselva; "Hønse-Lovisa's house" (Sandakerveien 2) was also part of the factory complex and is its only remaining building.
He was an avid hunter and lived for several years later in life on one of his son's estates in Sweden, which had extensive hunting grounds.