Charles Kimball Darling was born on June 28, 1864 in Corinth Center, Vermont.

His father, Joseph K., mustered in as a private with Co. H, 12th Vermont Infantry on October 4, 1862 and served until July 14, 1863 after being promoted to a Corporal. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic with the Ransom Post 7, East Corinth.

Charles joined the Clark S. Simonds Camp 28 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on January 4, 1887. His brother Hale K. would joined the same Camp two years later. Charles was elected Massachusetts Division Colonel in 1891 after serving as Lt. Colonel the year before. For the National Organization, he was Adjutant-General in 1893.

At the1898 National Encampment, the Adjutant-General explained Charles' absence, “Major Darling, Commander-in-Chief of the organization is at present in the service of the Government with his regiment at Porto [sic] Rico, and is unable to be present for that reason. [Applause and three cheers for Commander-in-Chief Charles K. Darling.]”

Charles attended Dartmouth College and West Point Academy. He joined the 6th M.V.M. and moved up the ranks retiring as a Brigadier General.

He started his business life as an employee for the Fitchburg, Old Colony, and Cheshire Railroads and the Fitchburg Sentinel newspaper before moving to Boston to study law. He became a prominent Boston lawyer and an instructor in criminal law at Boston University.

He was appointed U.S. Marshal for Massachusetts (1899 – 1908), Clerk for the United States Circuit Court if Appeals, First District (1908 – 1909), Clerk of the United States Circuit Court (1909 – 1912), United States Commissioner (1908 – 1914), and appointed Referee in Bankruptcy in July, 1914.

Charles was an officer in the United Spanish War Veterans and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (President of the Massachusetts Society in 1907 and 1908). He was also a member of the Fitchburg Historical and Massachusetts Historical Societies, Hooker Association, Chelsea Soldiers' Home (Trustee and Treasurer), Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and the Massachusetts and Middlesex Bar Associations.

He married Elizabeth R. Holmes and they had one daughter.

Brother Darling died on December 29, 1926 in Belmont, Massachusetts and is buried in Milton Cemetery in Milton, Massachusetts.