Born into a family of răzeși (free peasants) in Săcărești, Iași County, he attended primary school in Târgu Frumos.

In 1852, he enrolled in Academia Mihăileană; among his teachers were August Treboniu Laurian and Simion Bărnuțiu.

He returned home following graduation, teaching physics and chemistry at Iași's National College and at the military high school.

In 1878, he became a professor at the University of Iași, at first teaching at the medicine and science faculties, later only in the mineral chemistry department of the latter.

A bitter rival of his was the Conservative Titu Maiorescu, and he was obliged to leave the Liberal cabinet in 1896 after a dispute related to the Romanian Orthodox Church.