Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels

Prince Frederick William
Born(1770-10-22)22 October 1770
Braunfels
Died13 April 1814(1814-04-13) (aged 43)
Sławięcice
SpouseFrederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Issue
  • Princess Sophie of Solms-Braunfels
  • Prince Frederick of Solms-Braunfels
  • Prince William of Solms-Braunfels
  • Augusta, Princess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
  • Prince Alexander of Solms-Braunfels
  • Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
HouseHouse of Solms-Braunfels
FatherFerdinand William Ernest, Prince of Solms-Braunfels
MotherCountess Sophie Christine Wilhelmine of Solms-Laubach

Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels (22 October 1770 in Braunfels – 13 April 1814 in Slawentzitz) was a Prussian Major General and by birth member of the House of Solms-Braunfels.

Early life

He was the fourth son of Ferdinand William Ernest, 2nd Prince of Solms-Braunfels (1721–1783) and his wife, Countess Sophie Christine Wilhelmine of Solms-Laubach (1741–1772).

Biography

He became known mainly through his marriage to Princess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She was the widow of Prince Louis Charles of Prussia (1773–1796). When she became pregnant in 1798, he married her in order to avoid a scandal. The daughter died soon after birth. Frederick William was alleged to have been strongly inclined to consume alcohol and had to quit military service in 1805 for health reasons. He also lost his income and even his brother advised Frederica to divorce. She was initially against it, but when in 1813, she met Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover (1771–1851), she, too, wanted the divorce. Before they got around to it, however, Frederick William died, in 1814 in Sławięcice.

Marriage and issue

From his marriage to Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the following children are known:

Ancestry

Footnotes

  1. ^ Dagmar von Gersdorff: Queen Louise and Frederick William III, 2002
  • http://www.thepeerage.com/p10584.htm#I105840
  • Marek, Miroslav. "Family Tree". Genealogy.EU.[self-published source][better source needed]