He was born three months after the death of his father, while his mother and his grandfather were acting as ducal regents for his older brother Charles Augustus.

Frederick and his brother were educated by the Hofmeister, Johann Eustach von Görtz and later by Christoph Martin Wieland.

Anna Amalia, Frederick's mother, held that only "beggar princes" would fall in love with ladies below their station.

His brother Charles Augustus wrote to Knebel that he had received a letter from London, which ... had no contents, except he wishes me a happy birthday.

He was infected with dysentery when his regiment was encamped near Pirmasens and died when they reached Wiebelskirchen (today part of Neunkirchen).