Alexander never received a university degree but he succeeded

Though Alexander never received a university degree, his natural genius had been nurtured, and his unconventional formal education was coming to an end. After a brief stint at a business school in Hamburg, he moved to Saxony to attend the renowned Freiberg mining academy, where he learned in eight months what others take years to learn.

Following that, Humboldt was appointed as a Prussian mine inspector before being quickly promoted to superintendent of mines in Franconia, then to distant pieces of land that had recently come into the country's possession and needed to be integrated into a single system. Mines for silver, gold, iron, vitriol, and salt were important sources of income at the time. They were especially appealing to the Prussian king because he was the sole owner of all mining rights.

As a mine inspector, Humboldt was not afraid to get his hands dirty. From the summer of 1792 to the spring of 1797, he traveled extensively, visiting and inspecting mines, working on budgets, writing reports, collecting minerals, conducting experiments, establishing a mining school, and writing a textbook. All for a yearly salary of approximately 400 Prussian thalers.