Physician, successively professor of natural history, anatomy, and histology at the University of Paris. In 1864, founded the Journal de l'anatomie et de la physiologie normales et pathologiques de l'homme et des animaux. In 1866, elected to the prestigious Académie Royale des Sciences of Paris. Took a deep interest in microscopy, including its technical aspects. Published several writings on the topic, including: Du Microscope et des Injections dans leurs application à the Anatomie et à la Pathologie (Paris, 1849) and Traité du Microscope (Paris, 1871).