Notable people · Founder · Alcoholics Anonymous
William Griffith 'Bill' Wilson
Bill W., born in East Dorset, Vermont, co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous with Dr. Bob Smith. He was in Akron from May to August 1935; he met Smith there on May 12, 1935 (at the Seiberling gatehouse) and lived for a time in the Smith home. He is buried in East Dorset, Vermont.
At a glance
- Born
- 1895-11-26
- Died
- 1971-01-24
- Education
- Norwich University, Northfield, VT, left, not graduated
- Known as
- Founder, Alcoholics Anonymous
- Organizations
- Alcoholics Anonymous
Life story
Bill Wilson was born in 1895 at his parents' inn in East Dorset, Vermont. After his parents divorced in 1906 his grandparents raised him. He left Norwich University and served in World War I.
He married Lois Burnham in 1918 and drank heavily through the 1920s and early 1930s. After a spiritual experience at Towns Hospital in December 1934 he stayed sober for the rest of his life.
In 1935 he met Bob Smith, a physician, in Akron, Ohio. Together they built what became Alcoholics Anonymous, and about 100 members were sober by 1938.
He wrote the Big Book and the Twelve Steps, lived at Stepping Stones in Bedford Hills, New York, and died in 1971.
Timeline
- 1895-11-26: Born (East Dorset, VT) source
- 1918-01-24: Marries Lois Burnham (New York) source
- 1934-12: Spiritual experience during fourth hospitalization; stops drinking (New York) source
- 1935: Meets Bob Smith (Akron, OH) source
- 1938: About 100 members sober (Akron and New York) source
- 1939: Big Book published (New York) source
- 1971-01-24: Dies (Miami, FL) source
What William is known for
- Co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous in Akron, 1935
- Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book) and the Twelve Steps
Inventions and firsts
- Alcoholics Anonymous founded (1935)
Honors and things named for them
- Time magazine's Most Important People of the 20th Century
- Stepping Stones, Bedford Hills NY, a National Historic Landmark
Family
- wife: Lois Burnham
- co-founder: Dr. Bob Smith
Ohio places
Where William Griffith 'Bill' Wilson was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Lived: Akron, Summit County (855 Ardmore Ave (Smith home), May-Aug 1935; first at the Mayflower Hotel) ZIP 44308 · Akron · Summit County
Myths and corrections
- The founding date of AA is variously given as May 1935 (Wilson meets Smith) or June 10, 1935 (Smith's last drink).
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. High: the main facts were confirmed in sources we opened.
- Bill W. (Wikipedia) life, founding