George Ingle Finch was born on August 4, 1888, in Orange, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Charles and Laura Finch, who had emigrated from England. George moved to Europe for his education and studied chemistry at the University of Geneva, later becoming a lecturer at Imperial College London. His early life was marked by a keen interest in both science and the outdoors, which would shape his future career.

During World War I, Finch served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, applying his scientific knowledge to develop military technologies. His contributions were significant, and in the 1918 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services in France, Egypt, and Salonika.

George Finch is best known for his pioneering role in high-altitude mountaineering. In 1922, he participated in the first British expedition to Mount Everest. Despite being somewhat of an outsider to the British mountaineering establishment due to his Australian roots and scientific approach, Finch's technical expertise and innovative use of oxygen made him a key figure in the expedition. He and his climbing partner, Geoffrey Bruce, reached an altitude of 27,300 feet (8,321 meters), setting a world altitude record at the time. Finch's use of supplemental oxygen, initially met with skepticism, later became standard practice in high-altitude climbing. their efforts were recognised when the team was awarded gold medals at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics.

In World War II, Finch continued to apply his scientific skills, focusing on fire defence and related technologies. His work was crucial to the war effort, and his scientific contributions were widely respected. After the war, Finch returned to academia, where he enjoyed a distinguished career as a scientist and educator.