Kingsley aiva wechina pavana vashanu vaReverend Charles Kingsley nomudzimai wake Mary; akaberekerwa paBarnack, Northamptonshire musi wa14 February 1826. Charles Kingsley nomunyori wenhau Henry Kingsley vaiva vanun'una vake, uye munyori Charlotte Chanter aiva hanzvadzi yake. Akadzidza paKing's College School, muLondon, paUniversity of Edinburgh, uko akapedza M.D. muna 1846, uye muParis, uko akakuvadzwa zvishoma panguva yemabhiriji emuna 1848
. Gare gare muna 1848 basa rake mukurwisa kupararira kwekorera muEngland rakayeukwa nemukoma wake Charles mumufananidzo waTom Thurnall mu "Makore maviri apfuura".