Charles was born in Glasgow the son of Dr John Robert Dickson.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for Kilmarnock Burghs in 1892, and Glasgow Bridgeton in 1895 and 1897.

His proposers were Sir James Dewar, John Chiene, Alexander Crum Brown, and Peter Guthrie Tait.

[10] He is buried in the 20th century extension to Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh with his wife Hester Bagot Banks(d. 1934).

He was related through marriage to Sir James Dewar (their wives were sisters).