Prince Frederick William of Solms-Braunfels was the first Prince of Solms-Braunfels.
Background
He was the son of Count William Maurice of Solms-Braunfels (1651–1724) and his wife Magdalene Sophie of Hesse-Homburg (1660–1720). When his father died on 18 February 1724, he became Count of Solms-Braunfeld, Greifenstein and Hungen, Tecklenburg, Kriechingen and Lingen, Lord of Münzenberg, Wildenfels, Sonnewalde, Püttlingen, Dortweiler and Beaucourt.
Career
Frederick William received an aristocratic education. However, because of his poor health, he did not rule much personally. Financial difficulties forced him to sell the city of Butzbach, which his family had owned since 1478, to Hesse-Darmstadt on 17 March 1741.
On 22 May 1742, Emperor Charles VII raised the House of Solms-Braunfels to the rank of Imperial Prince.