Marvin was born in Elmira, New York on January 28, 1880 to Mary J. Marvin and Edward Marvin. He was the youngest of six children. When Marvin was six years old his father died. Marvin was educated in Elmira in the public school system at Beecher School. In 1899, Marvin graduated from the Elmira Free Academy, and in fall of that same year he went to Cornell University. Marvin also served on the training-ship St. Mary's of the New York Nautical School, which conducted scientific studies in European waters. He graduated from the Nautical School in 1902 and from Cornell University in 1905 with a degree in civil engineering.

Marvin was given the role of chief scientist and keeper of the ship's log. He would record the day-to-day activities of the men, and of the general conditions that the men had to face while headed toward the arctic, which included the weather. Marvin kept a journal of his days on the ice, however the entries began to dwindle as the expedition went on. His last journal entry was on December 8, 1908. On this journey, they were better equipped. They had 7 explorers, 17 Eskimos, 133 sled dogs, and 19 sledges. There was a main group and there were smaller groups. The smaller groups would break off from the main group and go ahead to establish camps for the main group. While Peary set out to reach the North Pole, Marvin was left behind as part of a staged support team. His partners were Inuit cousins, Kudlookto and Harrigan. After Peary left Marvin with his two Eskimo companions, Peary never saw Marvin alive.

Marvin is remembered at one of his alma maters, State University of New York Maritime College in New York City with a plaque commemorated May 7, 1968.