Education
He earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Rostock in 1861, and following graduation worked for the Pharmaceutical Society of Saint St. Petersburg. From 1864 to 1894 he was a professor of pharmacy at the University of Dorpat. In 1872 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in medicine from the University of Munich.
He was the president of the Estonian Naturalists" Society in 1890–1893.