Born in Germany; came to Australia in 1854; married Caterina Sophia Henriette Hachmann, nee Hanstein in 1856; worked with various Melbourne publications with mixed success; 1868 was appointed supernumerary wood-engraver to the Government Printing Office but lost his position after 6 months; became a full-time vigneron in the Bendigo district; died in 1894 and is buried in St. Kilda.