Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in 1869, Moore was educated at the Central High School of Philadelphia, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1886.
A student at the University of Pennsylvania, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree there in 1892 and his Doctor of Philosophy in 1896.
In 1902, he became assistant curator of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and worked for many years with Witmer Stone.
[3] He conducted field research in India between 1930 and 1931 to study the life history of Indian land leeches.
In recognition of his work, he was appointed Honorary Collaborator in the Division of Marine Invertebrates, USNM, in 1930.