He became in 1847 a professor of toxicology and chemistry at the École supérieure de Pharmacie at Strasbourg.

Because of his participation in the demonstration on "revolutionary day" 13 June 1849, he was forced to leave France, subsequently settling in Switzerland.

[1] In 1849 he became a professor of physics and chemistry at Lausanne, and in 1852 a chemist to a Turkey red factory near Manchester.

[2] In 1844 he reportedly was the first to discover red phosphorus;[3] his findings taking place prior to Anton Schrötter's discovery of the substance during the following year.

[4] With Pompejus Bolley, he published "Traité des matières colorantes artificielles dérivées du goudron de houille" (1874, "Treatise on artificial dyes derived from coal tar").