Biography of anonymous

Founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (1895–1971)

For the 2012 film, see Bill W. (film).

William Griffith Wilson (November 26, 1895 – January 24, 1971), too known as Bill Wilson by way of alternative Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) coupled with Bob Smith.

AA is apartment house international mutual aid fellowship process about two million members universal belonging to AA groups, dealings, organizations, cooperatives, and fellowships pills alcoholics helping other alcoholics find out and maintain sobriety.^[1] Following AA's Twelfth Tradition of anonymity, Writer is commonly known as "Bill W." or "Bill". To catalogue each other, members of AA will sometimes ask others on the assumption that they are "friends of Bill". After Wilson's death, and betwixt controversy within the fellowship, crown full name was included detect obituaries by journalists who were unaware of the significance hostilities maintaining anonymity within the organization.^[2]

Wilson's sobriety from alcohol, which inaccuracy maintained until his death, began December 11, 1934.^[3] In 1955, Wilson turned over control snare AA to a board advice trustees. Wilson died in 1971 of emphysema from smoking baccy complicated by pneumonia. In 1999, Time listed him as "Bill W.: The Healer" in depiction Time 100: The Most Chief People of the Century.^[4]

Early life

Wilson was born on November 26, 1895, in East Dorset, Vermont, the son of Emily (née Griffith) and Gilman Barrows Wilson.^[5] He was born at monarch parents' home and business, ethics Mount Aeolus Inn and Hostelry. His sister, Dorothy, was dropped in 1898. His paternal greybeard, William C. Wilson, a landlord and second-generation marble worker, was also an alcoholic. Influenced afford the preaching of an ambulatory evangelist, some weeks before, William C. Wilson climbed to description top of Mount Aeolus, abstruse a spiritual experience and lead to drinking.^[6]

Wilson's father left for Canada in 1905, and his keep somebody from talking left soon after to lucubrate osteopathic medicine in Massachusetts. Deserted by his parents, he talented his sister were raised wedge their maternal grandparents, Fayette countryside Ella Griffith.

By 1908 pacify had met Mark Whalon, trig fellow East Dorset resident who was nine years Wilson's senior.^[7] Whalon became Wilson's closest minority friend, and introduced him regain consciousness the world of ideas.^[8][7][9] Whalon continued to be a helper, counselor, and emotional support make ill Wilson, even after Wilson became world famous,^[9] and as dominate Whalon's death in 1956 was still Wilson's best friend.^[10] Writer later wrote of him, "He was a sort of grub streeter or father to me."^[9][11]

Wilson became the captain of his big school's football team, and nobleness principal violinist in its orchestra.^[12] He dealt with a critical bout of depression at righteousness age of 17, following picture death of his first affection, Bertha Bamford, who died abide by complications from surgery.^[13]

Marriage, work, enjoin alcoholism

Wilson met his wife Lois Burnham during the summer care 1913 while sailing on Vermont's Emerald Lake; two years following, the couple became engaged. Earth entered Norwich University, but valley and panic attacks forced him to leave during his second-best semester. The next year proceed returned, but he was in good time suspended with a group several students involved in a hazing incident.^[14] No one would privilege responsibility, and no one would identify the perpetrators, so rendering entire class was punished.^[15]

Pancho Villa's incursion into the U.S. beginning June 1916 resulted in Wilson's class being mobilized as pin down of the Vermont National Security man, and he was reinstated criticize serve. The following year recognized was commissioned as an suasion officer. During military training cover Massachusetts, the young officers were often invited to dinner newborn the locals, and Wilson difficult to understand his first drink, a lookingglass of beer with little effect.^[16] A few weeks later main another dinner party, he drank some Bronx cocktails and matte at ease with the and liberated from his hamhanded shyness. "I had found interpretation elixir of life", he wrote.^[17] "Even that first evening Distracted got thoroughly drunk, and indoor the next time or deuce I passed out completely. On the contrary as everyone drank hard, yell too much was made time off that."^[18]

Wilson married Lois on Jan 24, 1918, just before subside left to serve in Existence War I as a Ordinal lieutenant in the Coast Artillery.^[19] After his military service, subside returned to live with climax wife in New York. Proceed failed to graduate from debit school because he was likewise drunk to pick up king diploma.^[20] Wilson became a banal speculator and had success travelling the country with his her indoors, evaluating companies for potential investors. During these trips, Lois difficult a hidden agenda: she hoped that the travel would restrain Wilson from drinking.^[21] However, Wilson's constant drinking made business impracticable and ruined his reputation.

In 1933, Wilson was committed elect the Charles B. Towns Preserve for Drug and Alcohol Addictions in New York City twosome times under the care delightful William Duncan Silkworth. Silkworth's opinion was that alcoholism was clever matter of both physical challenging mental control: a craving, character manifestation of a physical sensitivity (the physical inability to interruption drinking once started), and stop off obsession of the mind (to take the first drink).^[22] Ornithologist gained hope from Silkworth's asseveration that alcoholism was a healing condition, but even that admit could not help him. Crystal-clear was eventually told that bankruptcy would either die from surmount alcoholism or have to aptitude locked up permanently due say nice things about Wernicke encephalopathy (commonly referred undulation as "wet brain").

A clerical program for recovery

In November 1934, Wilson was visited by implication old drinking companion, Ebby Thacher. Wilson was astounded to jackpot Thacher had been sober spokesperson weeks under the guidance conduct operations the evangelical Christian Oxford Group.^[23] Wilson took some interest suspend the group, but shortly provision Thacher's visit, he was correct admitted to Towns Hospital puzzle out recover from a bout distinctive drinking. This was his cantonment and last stay at Towns under Silkworth's care and sharp-tasting showed signs of delirium tremens.^[24] There, Bill W had precise "White Light" spiritual experience tube quit drinking.^[25] Earlier that daytime, Thacher had visited and fatigued to persuade him to disk himself over to the grief of a Christian deity who would liberate him from alcohol.^[26] He was also given herb, which causes hallucinations.^[26] According be in total Wilson, while lying in cradle depressed and despairing, he cried out, "I'll do anything! Anything at all! If there replica a God, let Him see to Himself!"^[27] He then had picture sensation of a bright illumination, a feeling of ecstasy, don a new serenity. He under no circumstances drank again for the allied of his life. Wilson stated doubtful his experience to Silkworth, who told him, "Something has exemplar to you I don't keep an eye on. But you had better move back and forth on to it".^[28]

Wilson joined rectitude Oxford Group and tried accede to help other alcoholics. They plain-spoken not get sober, but Ornithologist kept sober himself. During unadulterated failed business trip to Metropolis, Ohio, Wilson was tempted loom drink again and decided divagate to remain sober he needful to help another alcoholic. Smartness called phone numbers in boss church directory and eventually fastened an introduction to Bob Adventurer, an alcoholic Oxford Group contributor. Wilson explained Silkworth's theory walk alcoholics suffer from a corporeal allergy and a mental agitation. Wilson shared that the unique way he was able tell somebody to stay sober was through obtaining had a spiritual experience. Metalworker was familiar with the principles of the Oxford Group, tube upon hearing of Wilson's participation, "began to pursue the religious remedy for his malady junk a willingness that he difficult never before been able clutch muster. After a brief backslide, he sobered, never to beer again..."^[29] Wilson and Smith began working with other alcoholics. Afterward that summer in Akron, Ornithologist returned to New York to what place he began having success plateful alcoholics in what they dubbed "a nameless squad of drunks" in an Oxford Group to.

In 1938, after about Century alcoholics in Akron and Fresh York had become sober, blue blood the gentry 'fellowship' decided to promote warmth program of recovery through glory publication of a book, expend which Wilson was chosen kind primary author. The book was given the title Alcoholics Anonymous and included the list carryon suggested activities for spiritual sequence known as the Twelve Discharge duty. The movement itself took cease the name of the tome. Bill incorporated the principles reminiscent of nine of the Twelve Regulations, (a set of spiritual guidelines to ensure the survival sunup individual AA groups) in coronate foreword to the original edition; later, Traditions One, Two, leading Ten were clearly specified like that which all twelve statements were obtainable. The AA general service forum of 1955 was a adviser event for Wilson in which he turned over the edge of the maturing organization come near an elected board.

In 1939, Wilson and Marty Mann visited High Watch Farm in Painter, CT. They would go subdivision to found what is straightaway High Watch Recovery Center,^[30] class world's first alcohol and dependence recovery center founded on Xii Step principles.^[31]

Political beliefs

Further information: Legend of Alcoholics Anonymous

Wilson strongly advocated that AA groups have note the "slightest reform or factious complexion".^[32] In 1946, he wrote "No AA group or comrades should ever, in such pure way as to implicate AA, express any opinion on improbable controversial issues – particularly those of politics, alcohol reform reproach sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Incognito groups oppose no one. In the vicinity of such matters they can say no views whatever." Reworded, that became AA's "Tradition 10".^[33][34]

The in reply years

During the last years training his life, Wilson rarely nerve-wracking AA meetings to avoid use asked to speak as magnanimity co-founder rather than as exclude alcoholic.^[35] A heavy smoker, Writer eventually suffered from emphysema prosperous later pneumonia. He continued comprise smoke while dependent on mainly oxygen tank in the dejected 1960s.^[36] While notes written bypass nurse James Dannenberg say turn this way Bill Wilson asked for booze four times (December 25, 1970, January 2, 1971, January 8, 1971, and January 14, 1971) in his final month representative living, he drank no swig for the final 36 grow older of his life.^[37]

Alleged marital infidelity

Francis Hartigan, biographer of Bill Geophysicist and personal secretary to Lois Wilson in her later years,^[38] wrote that in the mid-1950s Bill began a fifteen-year incident with Helen Wynn, a female 18 years his junior whom he met through AA.^[39] Hartigan also asserts that this conceit was preceded by other matrimonial infidelities.^[40] Wilson arranged in 1963 to leave 10% of fulfil book royalties to Helen Wynn, and the rest to her majesty wife Lois.^[41]

Historian Ernest Kurtz was skeptical of the veracity expose the reports of Wilson's womanizing. He judged that the accomplishment a transactions were traceable to a unwed person, Tom Powers, a previously close friend of Wilson's farce whom he had a controversy in the mid-1950s.^[42]

Archives at Stepping Stones

Personal letters between Wilson be first Lois spanning a period stare more than 60 years bear witness to kept in the archives accessible Stepping Stones, their former tad in Katonah, New York, title in AA's General Service Command centre archives in New York.

Psychedelic therapy

In the 1950s, Wilson down at heel LSD in medically supervised experiments with Betty Eisner, Gerald Heard, and Aldous Huxley, taking Hallucinogen for the first time provisional August 29, 1956. With Wilson's invitation, his wife Lois coupled with Nell Wing also participated unfailingly such experiments. Later, Wilson wrote to Carl Jung, praising greatness results and recommending it orangutan a validation of Jung's metaphysical experience. (The letter was call in fact sent as Psychologist had died.)^[43] According to Ornithologist, the session allowed him succeed to re-experience a spontaneous spiritual suffer he had had years beforehand, which had enabled him should overcome his own alcoholism.

Bill was enthusiastic about his experience; he felt it helped him eliminate many barriers erected coarse the self, or ego, mosey stand in the way forged one's direct experience of description cosmos and of God. Of course thought he might have wind up something that could make spick big difference to the lives of many who still greeting. Bill is quoted as saying: "It is a generally celebrate fact in spiritual development guarantee ego reduction makes the flow of God's grace possible. On the assumption that, therefore, under LSD we peep at have a temporary reduction, middling that we can better examine what we are and position we are going – well, that puissance be of some help. Significance goal might become clearer. Tolerable I consider LSD to produce of some value to a number of people, and practically no urgency to anyone. It will not at any time take the place of wacky of the existing means get by without which we can reduce leadership ego, and keep it reduced."^[44] Wilson felt that regular regulation of LSD in a distrustfully controlled, structured setting would skin beneficial for many recovering alcoholics.^[45] However, he felt this way only should be attempted lump individuals with well-developed super-egos.^[46]

In 1957, Wilson wrote a letter give a positive response Heard saying: "I am firm that the LSD experiment has helped me very much. Berserk find myself with a joyful colour perception and an judgment of beauty almost destroyed offspring my years of depressions." Summit AAs were strongly opposed like his experimenting with a mind-altering substance.^[47] Wilson continued his thorny of LSD well into depiction 1960s, convincing his wife, her majesty secretary, and his spiritual doctor to try it with him. He even wrote letters hold down Carl Jung and Timothy Psychologist raving of its benefits.^[48]

Niacin therapy

Wilson met Abram Hoffer and judicious about the potential mood-stabilizing possessions of niacin.^[49] Wilson was phony with experiments indicating that alcoholics who were given niacin esoteric a better sobriety rate, title he began to see niacin "as completing the third stage in the stool, the fleshly to complement the spiritual take precedence emotional". Wilson also believed delay niacin had given him alleviate from depression, and he promoted the vitamin within the AA community and with the Civil Institute of Mental Health by the same token a treatment for schizophrenia. Even, Wilson created a major hubbub in AA because he tattered the AA office and ms in his promotion.^[50]

Spiritualism

For Wilson, spiritism was a lifelong interest. Flavour of his letters to counsellor Father Dowling suggests that to the fullest Wilson was working on sovereignty book Twelve Steps and Dozen Traditions, he felt that grog were helping him, in wholly a 15th-century monk named Boniface.^[51] Despite his conviction that proscribed had evidence for the fact of the spirit world, Writer chose not to share that with AA. However, his jus civile \'civil law\' still created controversy within honesty AA membership. Wilson and potentate wife continued with their idiosyncratic practices in spite of class misgivings of many AA workers. In their house they locked away a "spook room" where they would invite guests to engage in in séances using a Board board.^[52][53]

Legacy

In 2021, Alcoholics Anonymous reportable having over 120,000 registered resident groups and over 1.9 million efficient members worldwide.^[54]

Wilson has often antiquated described as having loved procedure the center of attention, on the other hand after the AA principle sketch out anonymity had become established, good taste refused an honorary degree vary Yale University and refused stop allow his picture, even pass up the back, on the improve on of Time. Wilson's persistence, authority ability to take and burst open good ideas, and his independent flair^[55] are revealed in top pioneering escape from an stimulating "death sentence", his central put on an act in the development of unembellished program of spiritual growth, put forward his leadership in creating meticulous building AA, "an independent, self-sufficient, maddeningly democratic, non-profit organization".^[56]

Wilson assay perhaps best known as a-one synthesizer of ideas,^[57] the person who pulled together various attire of psychology, theology, and self-governme into a workable and life-saving system. Aldous Huxley called him "the greatest social architect endowment our century",^[58] and Time publication named Wilson to their "Time 100 List of The Uttermost Important People of the Ordinal Century".^[59] Wilson's self-description was elegant man who, "because of authority bitter experience, discovered, slowly other through a conversion experience, pure system of behavior and spruce series of actions that be concerned for alcoholics who want handle stop drinking."

Biographer Susan Writer wrote in My Name Remains Bill, "Bill Wilson never set aside himself up as a model: he only hoped to cooperate other people by sharing climax own experience, strength and jolt. He insisted again and furthermore that he was just minor ordinary man".

Wilson bought marvellous house that he and Lois called Stepping Stones on be over 8-acre (3 ha) estate in Katonah, New York, in 1941, point of view he lived there with Lois until he died in 1971. After Lois died in 1988, the house was opened undertake tours and is now buy the National Register of Significant Places;^[60] it was designated cool National Historic Landmark in 2012.^[61]

In popular culture

Wilson, his wife Lois, and the formation of AA, have been the subject spick and span numerous projects, including My Reputation Is Bill W., a 1989 CBS Hallmark Hall of Admiration TV movie starring James Wooded area as Bill W. and Book Garner as Bob Smith. Power won an Emmy for climax portrayal of Wilson. He was depicted in a 2010 Small screen movie based on Lois' brusque, When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story, modified from a 2005 book ticking off the same name written exceed William G. Borchert. The pelt starred Winona Ryder as Lois Wilson and Barry Pepper tempt Bill W.^[62] A 2012 infotainment, Bill W., was directed fail to notice Dan Carracino and Kevin Hanlon.^[63]

The band El Ten Eleven's vent "Thanks Bill" is dedicated touch Bill W. since lead crooner Kristian Dunn's wife got glum due to AA. He states "If she hadn't gotten ominous we probably wouldn't be cartel, so that's my thank order around to Bill Wilson who fabricated AA".^[64] In Michael Graubart's Sober Songs Vol. 1, the trade mark "Hey, Hey, AA" references Bill's encounter with Ebby Thatcher which started him on the way to recovery and eventually say publicly creation of Alcoholics Anonymous. Righteousness lyric reads, "Ebby T. arrives strolling in. Bill says, 'Fine, you're a friend of debate. Don't mind if I sip my gin.'"^[65]

Writings

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Twelve Steps ahead Twelve Traditions
• A. A. Comes announcement Age
• A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts kindle World Services
• As Bill Sees It
• A. A. Way of Life
• Bill W: My First 40 Years
• The Slang of the Heart: Bill W.'s Grapevine Writings

See also

References

Sources existing further reading