Mines ParisTech
After studying engineering at Turin, he was sent in 1843 to study mineralogy at the Parisian school of mines (Mines ParisTech). In Paris he witnessed the revolution of 1848, and only returned to Turin in 1852, when he taught applied geometry at the technical institute. In 1853 he became professor of mathematics at the university, and in 1860 professor of mineralogy in the school of applied engineering.