In 1849, he began studies at the University of Upsala. He gained a doctorate in physics (DPh) in 1854. In 1856, he began lecturing in astronomy. After some travelling scholarships to observatories in England, France and Germany, he was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1861. In 1869/1870, he was Professor of Physics at Stockholm Technical School. In 1873, he returned to Upsala as Professor of Mechanics and in 1874, became Professor of Physics there, replacing Angstrom. During this period, he received much criticism for favouring Angstrom's son, Knut, as a star pupil.
