Emanuel Swedberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to Jesper Swedberg, a Lutheran clergyman who would later become Bishop of Skara, and Sara Behm. His father's religious influence and intellectual environment played a significant role in shaping Emanuel's early life and fostering his interest in theological and philosophical matters.

Swedenborg attended Uppsala University, where he studied a wide range of subjects including classical languages, mathematics, and natural sciences. This period laid the foundation for his later scientific pursuits and showcased his diverse intellectual abilities. He demonstrated a particular aptitude for mathematics and natural philosophy, which would later inform his engineering projects and scientific theories.