Prince Charles Ferdinand William of Solms-Lich-Hohensolms was a German politician.
Background
Charles was the eldest son of Prince Hermann of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1838–1899) and his wife Agnes, Countess of Stolberg-Wernigerode (1842–1904). He married on 16 October 1894 in Wernigerode with Princess Emma (1875–1956), daughter of the prince Otto of Stolberg-Wernigerode.
Career
He was president of the First Chamber of the Estates of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. The marriage produced four children:
Philip Hermann (1895–1918), Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. Fell in battle at Kostiantynivka (Ukraine)
Anne-Agnes (1899–1987), married in 1923 Prince Carl of Castell-Castell (1897–1945)
Elizabeth (1903–1992), married in 1944 Otto Vossler (1902–1987)
Joana Marie (1905–1982), married in 1924 Count George Frederick of Solms-Laubach (1899–1969.
Grandson of Bruno, 3rd Prince of Ysenburg and Büdingen).
They had issue, among which:
Countess Irene of Solms-Laubach, mother of Countess Donata of Castell-Rüdenhausen
Countess Monika of Solms-Laubach, wife of Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover
When his father, Hermann, Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, died in 1899, Charles took over as sovereign. He was Vice President of the First Chamber from 1908 to 1914 and President from 1814 to 1918.
Membership
As a Hessian nobleman, he was a member of the First Chamber of the Estates of the Grand Duchy of Hesse under the 1899 constitution until the November Revolution of 1918. From 1901 to 1918, he was also a member of the Prussian House of Lords.