 Candolle 's initiation to botany happened in 1794 thanks to Pierre Etienne Vaucher in Geneva . He spent then four years at the Geneva Academy , studying science and law according to his father 's wishes . In 1798 , he moved to Paris after Geneva had been annexed to the French Republic . His botanical career began with the help of René Louiche Desfontaines , who recommended de Candolle for work in the herbarium of Charles Louis L 'Héritier de <unk> during the summer of 1798 . The position elevated de Candolle 's reputation and also led to valuable instruction from Desfontaines <unk> de Candolle established his first genus , <unk> , in 1799 . 
