His father was Prince Friedrick Wilhelm of Solms-Braunfels, second husband of Princess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who bore 13 children during her three marriages.

He arrived on Texas soil in July 1844, making an exploratory tour as an advisor to the Adelsverein, which owned the rights to the Fisher–Miller Land Grant.

[3] Subsequently, Carl purchased an additional 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) on the Guadalupe River on behalf of the Adelsverein, where he established the colony of New Braunfels, Texas.

[4] His vision cleared the path for John O. Meusebach to follow in 1845 as the organizer, negotiator, and political force needed for community-building structure in the "New Germany".

The union produced five children:[citation needed] Prince Solms died at Rheingrafenstein on 13 November 1875 and is interred in the city cemetery of Bad Kreuznach.