His parents were Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt and Elisabeth Dorothea of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1640–1709).

Among those patronized in this cultural milieu were the Baroque composer Christoph Graupner and the gambist Ernst Christian Hesse; also bringing into his service architect Louis Remy de la Fosse for his extensive building program.

Upon his death in 1739, his country's debt was 4 million gulden, ten times the annual revenue.

Their children were: Ernest Louis married his second wife Luise Sophie von Spiegel zum Desenberg (1690–1751), daughter of Hermann Wilhelm von Spiegel zu Desenberg and Claire Anna Helena von Hornberg, on 20 January 1727, who was thereafter raised to the rank of Countess of Eppstein.

He had two daughters with her: Ernest Louis had one additional illegitimate child with Charlotte von Forstner (1686–1727):