Born in Hampshire, England on May 8, 1821, Charles Parsons immigrated to New York City with his family in 1830. At age 12 he was an apprentice of lithographer George Endicott.
After 1861 he did many lithographs for Currier & Ives and headed Harper's art department until 1889.
While in San Francisco in 1878, he sketched a view of the city while visiting with old friends Britton & Rey.

Parsons died at his home in Brooklyn, NY on Nov. 9, 1910.