Fürst Karl Ferdinand Wilhelm zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich was born on 27 June 1866, in Lich, Gießen, Hesse, Germany, his father, Prince Hermann Adolf zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, was 28 and his mother, Gräfin Agnes zu Stolberg-Wernigerode, was 29. He married Gräfin Emma Karoline zu Stolberg-Wernigerode on 16 October 1894, in Wernigerode, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. He died on 26 July 1920, in his hometown, at the age of 54, and was buried in Lich, Gießen, Hesse, Germany.