Carl Louis Breithaupt was born in Berlin (later Kitchener) Ontario on July 27, 1896 to parents John Christian Breithaupt and Caroline Catherine Anthes. He attended Kitchener Collegiate Institute from 1910 to 1915 and was then employed by the family-owned Breithaupt Leather Company Limited of Kitchener. Carl enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1917 and went to England where he was detailed to Signal Company schools in south of England. He advanced to wireless operator, returning to Canada in March 1919.

Carl was educated as an chemical engineer and became an American citizen. While working in Boston, Massachusetts married Alice Kranz of Pennsylvania on October 11, 1933 in Ohio. In the 1940 United States census, Carl and Alice were listed as living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio with children Carl W. aged 5 and Walter, aged 1. On August 14, 1946 Carl drowned while on a fishing trip in Parry Sound, Ontario with his brother, Walter. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener. Following his death Alice and their children stayed in Ohio. She died May 25, 1984.