Born in Bonn, Ley attended the Königliches Gymnasium in Bonn (today the and studied Classical philology, German studies and history at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. Afterwards he worked as a grammar school teacher in Emmerich and Essen and finally became headmaster of the Städtisches Gymnasium in Boppard, current ).There, he aroused the displeasure of the French occupying forces and was expelled. He then returned to teaching and taught at grammar schools in Wipperfürth, (Oberbergischer Kreis) and Linz am Rhein. After his retirement in 1932, he returned to his home town.
