Charles Schindler was born in France in 1878. After school, he proceeded to the University of Paris to study law. From 1900, he spent two years in England as a French teacher and journalist, then emigrated to Australia. He married Eunice Mary Page (1884-1935) in 1906 and they went on to have two sons. In 1909 the couple settled in Queensland. While teaching French in Brisbane high schools during the day, he attended the University of Queensland as a foundation student, taking evening classes in Arts, French, German, English, Geology, Economics, Logic and Psychology. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in 1915 and a Master of Arts in 1918. In 1915 he became a part-time member of the French and German teaching staff and in 1921 became a full-time lecturer, continuing in the position until 1948. In 1947 he was appointed Associate Professor of Modern Languages. After retiring in 1948, he moved to New Guinea, joining his son Aubrey, an agricultural officer, in the Aiyura Valley. There he established a small school at which he taught until the final years of his life. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Queensland in 1967. He died in June 1969 and was buried near the school he established.