Kinder was born in London, United Kingdom, on 17 September 1819, the oldest surviving child of a wealthy merchant and his second wife.

[1] In 1838 Kinder entered Trinity College, Cambridge,[2] originally studying Mathematics but Classics and Theology were where his true interests lay.

[1] However, after he was petitioned to be removed from his post due to his strict religious practices, he was interviewed by Bishop George Selwyn to relocate to Auckland, New Zealand to be the headmaster of the Church of England Grammar School.

[5] One of his most well known photographic works was the portrait of Wiremu Tamihana, which was used as the front cover of the 1864 book, The Maori King by John Gorst.

[1] Kinder died on 5 September 1903, aged 83, in Remuera, Auckland, and was buried at St John's College.