He gained a degree in mechanical engineering after a three-year study at Technische Hochschule Karlsruhe.

Popper spent three years at various engineering works in Prague before joining the Austro-Hungarian Navy on 1 December 1869 as a draughtsman.

He began working on ship design in 1887, when he prepared plans for the torpedo cruiser Tiger.

[citation needed] After retirement Popper devoted much of his time to translating Hebrew literature into German.

Because of his deafness he was run down by a tram in Prague and died several days later, on 19 April 1933.