Born in Australia, Chamberlain left Port Jackson in 1811 on the whaling ship the Frederick. The ship was captured by the French on its voyage to England and Chamberlain was taken prisoner before being rescued by the British navy. After spending some years in Britain, Chamberlain returned to Australia at the age of thirteen and subsequently went back to the sea, first on a sealing ship and later on whaling ships.
Chamberlain settled with his family in Hobart in 1856.
