He was born in Frelighsburg, Lower Canada in 1827, the son of Brown Chamberlin, a doctor. He studied at McGill College and was called to the bar in 1850. Chamberlin worked as a journalist and was publisher of the "Montreal Gazette" from 1853 to 1867. He later sold the paper to Richard and Thomas White. He resigned his seat in the House of Commons when he was named Queen's Printer in Ottawa in 1870; Chamberlin held this post until 1891. He served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia and was named a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his role in repelling Fenian raiders at Eccles Hill. He was also a Freemason, and a member of Civil Service Lodge No. 148, in Ottawa. Chamberlin died in Lakefield, Ontario at the age of 70.