He was the son of Louis, Prince of Nassau-Saarbrücken and his first wife, Princess Wilhelmine of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1751–1780).

His parents' marriage was unhappy, so that Wihelmine retreated to Hallberg Castle, where she raised her son.

However, Nassau-Saarbrücken was still occupied by French revolutionary troops and he could not rule his principality.

His half brother Adolph came of age in 1805 and resumed the title Prince of Nassau-Saarbrücken.

He married on 6 October 1785 to Princess Marie Françoise Maximilienne of Saint Mauris-Montbarrey (2 November 1761 – 2 February 1838), the daughter of Prince Alexandre Marie Léonor de Saint-Mauris de Montbarrey.