Frederick Charles of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was born in Rudolstadt, the son of Prince Louis Günther II of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and his wife Sophie Henriette, born Countess Reuss of Untergreiz (1711–1771).

In 1757, he created the Princely Natural History Collection at the Ludwigsburg Castle in Rudolstadt.

Frederick Charles of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt corresponded with Johann Heinrich Merck, among others, and let him have some rhinoceros bones and other pieces from his collection for research.

He had personal and scientific relationships with his correspondents and kept their writings in the library of his Cabinet.

Frederick Charles married his first wife, Princess Friederike Sophie Auguste of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1745–1778), in 1763.