Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels

Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels (22 October 1770, Braunfels – 13 April 1814, Slawentzitz) was a Prussian Major General. He was the son of Prince Wilhelm Ernst Ferdinand of Solms-Braunfels (1721–1783) and Countess Sophie Christine Wilhelmine of Solms-Laubach (1741–1772).

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 I 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 Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the following children are known:
 * Princess Caroline of Solms-Braunfels (born: 27 February 1799; died: 20 October 1799)
 * Unnamed child (* 1800 †).
 * Unnamed child (* 1800 †).
 * Prince Frederick William Henry of Solms-Braunfels (1801–1868); married in 1831 Countess Maria Anna Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau (1809–1892).
 * Princess Sophie of Solms-Braunfels (1803-1803).
 * Princess Louise Auguste of Solms-Braunfels (1804–1865); married in 1827 Prince Albert of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1867 Prince) (1798–1869).
 * Prince Alexander Frederick Louis of Solms-Braunfels (1807–1867); married in 1863 Baroness Louise of Landsberg-Velen (1835–1894).
 * Prince Frederick William Carl of Solms-Braunfels (1812–1875); married firstly from 1834-1841 (morganatic marriage) Louise Beyrich, and secondly, in 1845, Princess Sophie of Loewenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1814–1876).