Friedrich Ferdinand was born in
Kiel,
Duchy of Holstein, the eldest son of
Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and
Princess Adelheid of Schaumburg-Lippe and a nephew of
Christian IX of Denmark. Friedrich Ferdinand succeeded to the headship of the
House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and title duke upon the death of his father on 27 November 1885. When the Head of the
House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein died on 27 April 1931, Friedrich Ferdinand became the Head of the
House of Oldenburg and inherited the title
Duke of Schleswig-Holstein. ==Marriage and issue==