He served as an assistant at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers in Paris, then at the age of 26, began work as a professor at the Collège Chaptal. He obtained his LSc degree in 1856 under Edmond Frémy.
Initially, he worked as an assistant at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers before becoming a professor at the Collège Chaptal at the age of 26. In 1856, he earned his LSc degree under Edmond Frémy.