The family immigrated to Tasmania in 1886, initially living in Hobart before settling in Latrobe on the north-west coast in 1890.

[1] Having previously been the manager of a livery yard, Chamberlain enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in October 1917 and served in France with the 12th Battalion.

He was wounded on active service, returning to Australia in May 1919 and taking up land at Preston as a soldier settler.

[2] Chamberlain's entire career in state politics was spent in opposition, during a 35-year period of Australian Labor Party (ALP) governments.

[1] He was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party on 9 November 1949, following the resignation of Reg Wright, defeating three other candidates in a partyroom ballot.