His sister, Catherine Chambers (1807-1865) married their third cousin, once removed Josaphat DuBois Hasbrouck Jr. (1805-1893).
He studied medicine, and began to practice about 1838 in Neversink, Sullivan County, New York.
He entered politics as a Whig; joined the Know Nothings, supporting Millard Fillmore for President in 1856; and then became a Democrat.
Through his mother, Chambers is a descendant of the Hasbrouck family, Huguenot refugees who helped found New Paltz, New York.
He was the grandson of Wells Lake, who was a New Paltz Town Supervisor, New York State Assemblyman and New York State Senator, and brother of Wells Lake Schoonmaker, a Marbletown Town Supervisor.