 He completed his education at the University of Berlin and in 1868 entered the Prussian Judiciary.In 1870 he married Hero Jung (1845-1906), daughter of the liberal politician and his wife Pauline Stein, and a first cousin of Mathilde Wesendonck.In 1874 he became an assistant judge (Hilfsrichter) in the District Court of Düsseldorf and in 1879 a Justice of the Peace (Amtsrichter).