Charles Joseph Finger was born on December 25, 1869, in Willesdon, England, to Charles H. and Julia Connolly Finger. He attended King's College in London and studied music at Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany. He emigrated to the United States in 1887 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1896.

During his late teens, Finger sailed around the world on a merchant ship, following the route taken by Magellan.

He traveled widely throughout Africa and spent years exploring South America, where he served as a guide for ornithological expeditions.

After returning to the United States, Finger took the post of director at the Conservatory of Music in San Angelo, Texas. On June 7, 1902, he married Nellie B. Ferguson. But his love for adventure and travel persisted, and in 1905 he set out for Alaska in search of gold as a manager of the Klondike Gold Fields. On his return he became...