Charles Frederic Waddington Sedgwick was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England in early 1884.

He was the son of John Sedgwick (b. 1853), a chemist, and Theresa Waddington (b. 1848). His father was originally from Burnley, Lancashire and his mother from Broughton, Yorkshire and the two were married in 1880. Charles had only one known sibling, his elder brother Richard (b. 1882), who later became an electrician.

Charles and his family appear on the 1891 census living at 13 Central Beach, Layton, Blackpool. He was educated at Mount St Mary's College, a Roman Catholic boarding school in Eckington, Derbyshire and he was listed here on the 1901 census. His parents were listed elsewhere at 244 Lytham Road, South Shore, Blackpool. Charles was apprenticed as an electrical engineer like brother before him.

His father died in 1908 and his mother the following year and when Charles appeared on the 1911 census he was living at an address in St Helens, Lancashire.

Charles was married in Liverpool in April 1912 to Adelaide Carrington (b. 1886 in Liverpool) of 68 Ampthhill Road, Aigburth, Liverpool. One week later he boarded the Titanic as a second class passenger (ticket number 244361 which cost £13). Giving an address in London as his most recent, Charles was headed for Mexico where he had an appointment at Minatitlán. He had previously worked for the St Helens Electricity Works, Lancashire. Family history tells that Adelaide was supposed to accompany her husband to Mexico, taking along their 10-year-old nephew Leslie Radcliffe, son of her elder sister Bessie. The Mexican revolution at the time created a volatile situation and it was decided that Charles would go alone.

Charles Sedgwick died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

His estate valued at £24 was administered to his widow on 27 September 1913. Adelaide remained a widow for over a decade before she was remarried in 1925 to James Robert Philip Lott (1881-1942), a motor engineer. The couple remained in Liverpool, later living at Southlands, Higher Road, Hunts Cross where Adelaide died on 5 February 1938.

Charles' nephew Leslie Radcliffe later settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba and kept his aunt's locket which displayed a picture of both she and her husband Charles. The heirloom is still with the family today, currently on display in the Manitoba Museum.