He was born in
Sandar as a son of ship-owner Anton Fredrik Klaveness (1839–1904) and Birthe Marie Andersen (1845–1932). He was a nephew of ship-owner
Henrik Klaveness and priest
Thorvald Klaveness, and first cousin of
Thoralv,
Thorvald and
Wilhelm Klaveness. His sister Berit married
Johan Karsten Rasmussen. In 1899 he married Therese Grøn (1875–1948). ==Career==