Charles Chapin was born on October 19, 1858, in Watertown, New York. He was the son of Earl Chapin and Cecelia A. Yale, who was part of the prominent Yale family. Chapin had one brother named Frederick Yale Chapin. His grandfather, Aaron Yale, was known as a California pioneer. He owned a large carriage manufacturing business in Pennsylvania. One of Chapin's uncles was Colonel John Wesley Yale, who served in the New York Infantry and was involved in various businesses in New York.

Chapin started his career at a newspaper in Kansas when he was just 14 years old. He later moved to Chicago, where he worked for the Chicago Tribune. Here, he became well-known as a crime reporter. His skills and reputation eventually led him to New York City in 1898. He joined the Evening World, a newspaper run by the Pulitzer family.

The Evening World focused on crime and entertainment rather than serious news. Under Chapin's guidance, the paper gained a large readership. He was known for creating eye-catching headlines that drew readers in. Chapin was a strict boss and had a reputation for being tough on his staff. He fired many journalists during his time, including the son of his publisher.

Chapin had strong opinions about his work. He saw himself as a newspaper man rather than a journalist. He believed that good reporting required a structured plan and dedication. He was known for chasing after breaking news and would not let anyone intimidate him.

One of his notable achievements was the publication of a photograph that captured the moment when New York mayor William Jay Gaynor was shot by an assassin in 1910. 

In September 1918, Charles Chapin shot and killed his wife while she was sleeping in their hotel room at the Cumberland Hotel on 54th and Broadway. After the shooting, Chapin intended to commit suicide but was arrested instead. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in Sing Sing prison.

While in prison, Chapin wrote a memoir and cultivated a rose garden, earning the nickname "The Rose Man." He was offered the position of editor for the prison newspaper, Sing Sing Bulletin. Under his leadership, the newspaper gained popularity and received praise from other media. However, the prison system eventually decided to discontinue the paper because it drew too much attention.

Chapin continued to work on projects in prison until he passed away from pneumonia on December 13, 1930.