Karl was born at Vienna, Habsburg monarchy, the sixth child and fifth son of Johann Rudolf, Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1748–1824) and Countess Maria Sidonia of Clary und Aldringen (1748–1824).

From 1809 he was senior administrative posts in Moravia and successfully reorganized the Trieste district office, which is why in 1815 after the defeat of Joachim Murat he became governor-general in the Kingdom of Naples.

As early as 1800, Archduke John had had the idea of this epochal project - as a "collection of all provincial products, which should serve as a model for the rest of the hereditary states".

Already the first statutes of the new institution had advanced content, "the progressive formation of the nation in general and in detail, especially the awakening and revival of interest, the products of nature, art and antiquity... " and the publication of a science-based journal.

This purpose definition went beyond the romantic-historical notions of the Biedermeier period and far beyond, all conditions of the Tyrolean crown land collected, organized, and made for the future.

He held this office until 1843 and gained recognition for the promotion of education, road construction and the establishment of institutions to help and care for poor people.