[1] Born the son of a Roman knight at Cales in Regio I (Latium et Campania) of Italia, Vinicius distinguished himself as legatus Augusti pro praetore or governor of the imperial province of Gallia Belgica in 25 BC, when he led a successful campaign into Germania.

[2][3] At some point, Vinicius may also have served as governor of the senatorial province of Achaea; an inscription from Corinth, dated to 18–12 BC and honoring his fellow-general, and the Emperor's right-hand man, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, reveals that an administrative division of the city had been named the tribus Vinicia, apparently in Vinicius' honor.

[4] In recognition of his services, Vinicius, the archetypal homo novus, was appointed suffect consul in 19 BC, replacing Gaius Sentius Saturninus.

[5][6][7][8] An inscription found at Tusculum reads "... propraetor of Caesar Augustus in [Illyricum; he was the first to advance] beyond the river Danube; he [routed] the army of [the Dacians] and the Bastarnae in battle; he brought the Cotini, [Osi], .

His grandson and namesake Marcus Vinicius was consul in 30 and the husband of Julia Livilla, sister of the emperor Caligula.