Career
He began his working life as a printer, but because of an inherited fortune Scherzer was able to travel extensively. He took an active part in the 1848 revolution and was exiled to Italy in 1850. After returning in 1859 he was a councillor of the board of trade, held an office in the bureau of foreign relations, and was tasked with compiling the commercial statistics of the empire.
As a reward for his publications Scherzer was knighted in 1866.
During 1869 he was the leader of an expedition to eastern Asia, afterwards he served as a consul in several places including Smyrna (today"s İzmir). In 1886 Scherzer retired.