Prince Carl (Karl) of Solms-Braunfels (July 27, 1812 - November 13, 1875), was born in Neustrelitz as Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Ludwig Georg Alfred Alexander, Prince of Solms, Lord of Braunfels, Grafenstein, Münzenberg, Wildenfels, and Sonnenwalde. He was the offspring of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Solms-Braunfels and Princess Friederike of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. .

His 1834 marriage to Baroness Luise von Schönau was considered below his royal station, in spite of three children resulting from the union. In 1841 he gave in to royal pressure and settled on a monetary arrangement for a de facto royal annulment from the Baroness.

He was the well-educated and well-connected handsome prince of wealth and privilege who sought adventure and looked for new worlds to explore. In 1841, he became Captain in the cavalry in the Imperial Army of Austria. It was during this period that Carl read books about Texas and became interested in joining the Adelsverein, zealously campaigning for its success. Prince Carl was the motivating force, as the 1844 Commissioner General of the Adelsverein, for the first colony of German emigrants to Texas. He arrived on Texas soil in July of 1844, making an exploratory tour of Texas as advisor to the Adelsverein, who owned the rights to the Fisher-Miller Land Grant. Subsequently, on behalf of the Adelsverein, Carl purchased an additional 1,300 acres on the Guadalupe River, where he established the colony of New Braunfels, Texas. 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".

In anticipation of his marriage to Maria Josephine Sophie, widow of Prince Franz of Salm-Salm and princess of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, Carl built "Sophie's Castle" in New Braunfels, Texas in 1845. Sophie refused to leave Germany, and Carl never returned to Texas after his marriage to her on December 3, 1845. The home now serves as a museum and archives of German history. The union produced five children: Prince Ludwig (1847-1900), Princess Eulalia (1851-1922), Princess Marie (1852-1882), Princess Sophie (1853-1869) and Prince Alexander (1855-1926).

After returning to Germany, he left the Austrian army and became a colonel in the cavalry of the Grand Duchy of Hesse in 1846. He was able to rejoin the Austrian army in 1850, becoming a brigadier in 1859 with command of dragoons on Lake Constance. He took part in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. He retired as a field marshal in 1868 to his residence at the estate of Rheingrafenstein near Kreuznach on the Nahe River. Prince Carl died November 13, 1875, and is interred in the city cemetery of Bad Kreuznach.

• July 27 - Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Ludwig Georg Alfred Alexander is born in Neustrelitz

• Marries Baroness Luis von Shonau, mother to three of his children

• Separates from Barroness von Shonau to save his career

• Joins the Adelsverein

• Commissioner General of the first colony that the society proposed to establish in Texas
• July 1 - Arrives in Galveston, purchases land on Matagorda Bay to be called Carlshafen, or Indianola

• Secures title to 1,265 acres of the Veramendi grant, including the Comal Springs and River, for the Adelsverein
• March 21 - Founds New Braunfels
• May 15 - Returns to Germany
• December 3 - Marries the widow Maria Josephine Sophie, widow of Prince Franz of Salm-Salm and princess of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, mother to five of Carl's children

• Leaves the Austrian army - becomes a Colonel in the cavalry of the Grand Duchy of Hesse

• Rejoins the Austrian army

• Becomes a brigadier with command of dragoons on Lake Constance

• Takes part in Austria war against Prussia.

• Retires as a field marshall to Rheingrafenstein near Kreuznach on the Nahe River

• November 13 - dies Is interred in the city cemetery of Bad Kreuznach