bˈɔːɹn ðə sˈʌn ʌv dʒˈɑːn tʃˈætwɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks dˈæʃ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈaɪv, ɐ bˈʌʔn̩ mˌænjuːfˈæktʃɚɹɚɹ ɪn ɡɹˈeɪt tʃˈɑːɹlz stɹˈiːt, bˈɜːmɪŋˌæm, ænd hˈæɹiət wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː dˈæʃ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈeɪt; nˈeɪ tˈɜːnɚ, ænd ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd æt kˈɪŋ ˈɛdwɚdz skˈuːl ˌɔn nˈuː stɹˈiːt ænd ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv lˈʌndən, hiː wʌz nˈoʊn baɪ ðə nˈeɪm ˈælfɹɪd.
Born the son of John Chatwin (1796-1855), a button manufacturer in Great Charles Street, Birmingham, and Harriet (1793-1848; née Turner), and educated at King Edward's School on New Street and the University of London, he was known by the name Alfred.