Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne took the cand.jur. degree in Copenhagen, and was hired as assessor in Copenhagen city court. In 1802 he was promoted to Supreme Court barrister. He left Denmark in 1804, and travelled around in Europe as a violinist. In 1806 he came to Norway, and originally settled in Moss. When the Gunboat War (1807–1814) broke out, he served in the Norwegian coastal defence, but in 1810 was hired as an attorney. In 1820 he was appointed district stipendiary magistrate ("sorenskriver") in Bamble, residing in nearby city Porsgrund.