He worked as a school teacher, and helped found the local library and museum in 1832.

He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1836, 1839, 1842, 1845, 1848, 1851 and 1854, representing the constituency of Arendal og Grimstad.

[1] In October 1854 he was appointed Minister of Church and Education, succeeding Jørgen Herman Vogt.

Otto Vincent Lange was proclaimed Knight of the Order of St. Olav 1847, promoted to Commander in 1857, and in 1863 was awarded the Grand Cross in 1863.

Lange also held the first class (equivalent to Grand Cross) of the Ottoman Mecidi Order.