Charles was born in
Strelitz on 23 February 1708, the second son and youngest child of
Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. His mother, Princess Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, was the third wife of his father. Charles had one half-brother and one surviving half-sister, the children of his father's first marriage. He also had one full sister at the time of his birth, but she died as an infant when Charles was less than one year old. Charles's father died when he was only three months old. His half-brother succeeded their father as
Adolphus Frederick III, whereas Charles, as the younger son, inherited the
commanderies of
Mirow and Nemerow. Charles's mother retired to the estate of Mirow upon the death of her husband, and Charles was raised there. He later attended the
University of Greifswald in
Pomerania. After visiting
Geneva, Italy and France, he went to
Vienna and briefly entered the service of the
Holy Roman Emperor as a
Lieutenant Colonel before returning to Mirow. After leaving the Army, Charles lived with his family in the castle of Mirow, managing his estates and attending to the education of his children. He lived at Mirow until his death there at the age of 44. When his older half-brother, Adolphus Frederick III, died in December 1752 without a male heir, Charles's son Adolf Friedrich succeeded as the next Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, reigning as Adolphus Frederick IV. ==Family==