Poey´s beginnings were not precisely natural science; he had graduated from the San Carlos Seminar in Law and was a student of intellectual Felix Varela. Later he traveled to Madrid to finish his studies and worked as Professor of the Real Academy of Law and Legislation.

 
He returned to Cuba in 1823 with a clear idea of his identification with the world of plants and animals which he specialized years later after a new trip to Europe.
 

While in France Poey contacted important zoologists and was one of the founders of the Entomology Society in that European nation. He later acquired the necessary scientific formation to later begin specializing in fish.

Since then important scientific societies from several nations demanded his work like Germany, England, United States and Spain. However, Poey decided to return to Cuba and begin to develop his scientific career combining work as researcher and professor.

 
His broad knowledge allowed him to practice in every level of education from kindergarten to the university including geography and mineralogy, botany, zoology and anatomy.
 

Poey´s work was so important in Cuba that an installation to encourage research and the creation of collections was founded. This dream became true in 1839 when the Museum of Natural History was created.

He was in charge of the School of Zoology and Compared Anatomy at the University of Havana and was also Dean and Vice Dean of the School of Sciences.

The Natural Science Library was founded at the University.
 

His voice and realistic criteria were heard in the Medical and Physics Sciences and Natural Academy, the Anthropology Society and the Amigos del Pais Economic Society considered among the most important scientific centers and of debates of the time.
 

Felipe Poey´s scientific work was mainly developed in entomology and among
his other works are the Memories on Cuba´s Natural Science and the Physical-Natural Repertoire of Cuba.