He studied botany at the University of Göttingen, and in 1819 performed botanical excursions throughout northern and eastern Italy. In 1822-23 he went on a expedition to Brazil on behalf of the Prussian government to collect flora for the Neu-Schönberger Botanical Garden and Pfaueninsel. In September-1834, while on an expedition through North America, he became ill and died at Fort Gibson, located in the present-day state of Oklahoma.