Mr Charles Valdemar Jensen was born in København (Copenhagen), Denmark on 27 December 1887 and later baptised on 22 April 1888 in St Johanne's church in Sokkelund (parish), Copenhagen, in the Church of Denmark tradition.

Jensen was the son of Christian Jensen, a waiter (born 1 June 1845 at Badstrup, Frederiksberg's County (near Copenhagen) and Maren Jensine Christine Mikkelsen (or Michelsen), born 24 October 1855 at Bogense, Odense, Fyn's County, Denmark).  His parents married 22 October 1882 at Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Church of Denmark tradition (although they later stated they had in fact married in 1874).

His known brothers and sisters were Karl Christian, b. 22 January 1876, Fanny Theodora, b. 22 October 1879 (d. 9 October 1881), Fanny Margrethe, b. 15 January 1882, Dagmar Eugenie Harriet, b. 24 August 1883 (d. 30 January 1886) Nelly Alexandra Eleonora, b. 15 August 1885, Peter Thorvald, b. 12 August 1886, Dagmar Harriet, b. 21 June 1889 (d. 4 June 1890), Ingeborg Louise, b. 27 April 1891 and Clara Adolfina Andrea, b. 29 October 1899; he may subsequently have had yet two siblings who died in infancy.

In 1890, Charles, aged 2, lived at Sølvgade in Nørrevold, Copenhagen. His father was noted as a hotel caretaker, aged 46, at the time. His brothers and sisters were Karl Christian, 14, Fanny Margrethe, 8, Nilly Alisandra, 4, Peter Thorvald, 3, and Dagmar Harriet, an infant.

In 1901, his parents stated there were twelve children born to them, seven of whom were alive. In 1901 he lived with his family in Classengrade, Copenhagen. His eldest sister Fanny was described as an office worker at the time.

His father died in the early 1900s and in 1906 Charles Valdemar lived at Nørregade in Copenhagen with his widowed mother, by now a waitress at an inn. Charles was an ''opvasker,'' which means ''dishwasher,'' (possibly at the inn where his mother worked).

By 1911 his mother was living at Mikkel Bryggers Gade, Copenhagen but Charles was not listed at the time.  There is a chance he was the ''Valderman C. Jensen'' who in March 1911 was a cook, aged 22, on a Danish ship which was in the port of Dartmouth, Devonshire.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 4 April 1912 Jensen gave his address as 17 Morris Road, Polygon, Southampton (a boarding house). His previous ship had been the Atrato and as a saloon steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s. He was the only crew member from Scandinavia.

Charles Jensen died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified. 

He left behind his widowed mother Maren Jenseine Christine Jensen, a sister and two brothers. The Mansion House Fund paid £20 and later £60 to his mother and she later received a further £80 in compensation.  Relief Fund: Danish case 473.

His sister Clara was in 1916 a clerk at S. Børgesen & Co. hat factory in Copenhagen. His brother Peter married and was in 1916 a ship’s cook, living in Copenhagen with his wife and five children. His brother Karl Christian was also married by 1916. He lived in Copenhagen with his wife and their three children and was described as a general caretaker.

His mother continued to live in Copenhagen but her eventual fate remains uncertain.