He also founded the Society of Music Friends of the Austrian Imperial State in 1812.

He was married to Anna Putz (1773–1824) and one of his sons was Leopold von Sonnleithner.

Sonnleithner led from 1815 to 1824 a musical salon, where many songs were premiered by Franz Schubert.

Eduard von Bauernfeld writes in his memoirs: "Grillparzer's uncle from maternal side was a famous Viennese wit."

He died on 27 November 1831 and was buried in the Matzleinsdorfer cemetery at Wiener Gemeindebezirk 5 (Stadtbezirk).