[citation needed] He admitted in a later article that he learnt Romanian by himself, from a book written by Petru Maior.

During the 1821 Revolution, his family took refuge in Chișinău, Bessarabia, where he met Alexander Pushkin and became interested in literature.

Notable among his writings are his memoirs – Amintiri din junețe ("Memories of youth") – and his historical writings, Fragmente istorice ("Historical fragments"), Negru in alb ("Black in white"), Aprodul purice (an aprod was a minor noble title, typically the son of a lord; Purice is a proper name, but literally means "flea"; see Movilești).

In 1841, Negruzzi, together with Mihail Kogălniceanu, printed the first cookbook in the Romanian language: 200 Proven Recipes for Dishes, Pastries, and Other Household Works.

Negruzzi also held several functions, including finance minister and deputy under Sturdza-Vodă.