He moved to London when he was sixteen years old and there he was employed as a French teacher. However he was determined to continue with his education, by now being particularly interested in learning more about physics and mathematics, and he took evening classes in physics at Woolwich. Mathematics, however, was a subject he worked at on his own.
Siya ay inilipat sa London kapag siya ay labing-anim na taong gulang at doon siya ay trabaho bilang isang French na guro. Gayunman siya ay tinutukoy na magpatuloy sa kanyang pang-edukasyon, sa pamamagitan ng pagiging ngayon lalo na interesado sa pag-aaral ng higit pa tungkol sa pisika at matematika, at siya kinuha gabi mga klase sa pisika sa Woolwich. Matematika, gayunpaman, ay isang paksa at nagtrabaho siya sa kanyang sarili.