He attended Lime Tree Garden Elementary School, West Indies College, and the City College of the University of New York where he was President of the West Indian Students' Association.
He graduated from City College with a bachelor's degree in political science, after which he returned to Jamaica.
[1] In June 1976, after a state of emergency was declared by the People's National Party, Charles was detained by armed forces and brought to Kingston for questioning.
[1] His daughter Patrece Charles King is a public health consultant and Counselling Psychologist, and also ran as the JLP candidate in East St Thomas in the 2011 election.
His son Pearnel Patroe Charles Jr. serves the people of Jamaica as a Senator and the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security.