He was educated in mineralogy and crystallography at Breslau and Berlin, during which time, he also studied hymnology.
While a student his influences included geologist Karl Georg von Raumer.
[1] He worked as a teacher at a trade school in Berlin (from 1829) and at a private school in Stetten (Württemberg) from 1839, then in 1845 was named a professor at a Realgymnasium in Wiesbaden, followed by a directorship at a Realschule in Elberfeld (from 1849).
In 1861 he received a doctorate in theology from the University of Breslau, and during the same year, moved to Dresden, where he focused on literary and hymnological studies.
In addition to his publications in the field of hymnology, he was the author of works on crystallography and pedagogy.