Election to the Danish parliament (1848), appointment as minister of education (1848–52), and presidency of the parliament (1856–63) interrupted his career as professor of Latin language and literature at the University of Copenhagen (1829–80). One of his most important works was his Latin grammar of 1841. His other writings include Die Verfassung und Verwaltung des Römischen Staates, 2 vol. (1881–82; “The Roman Constitution and Administration”) and an autobiography (1887).