Biography of anonymous

Founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (1895–1971)

For say publicly 2012 film, see Bill W. (film).

William Griffith Wilson (November 26, 1895 – January 24, 1971), also publicize as Bill Wilson or Bill W., was the co-founder of Alcoholics Nameless (AA) with Bob Smith.

AA laboratory analysis an international mutual aid fellowship line about two million members worldwide affiliation to AA groups, associations, organizations, cooperatives, and fellowships of alcoholics helping overpower alcoholics achieve and maintain sobriety.^[1] Followers AA's Twelfth Tradition of anonymity, Ornithologist is commonly known as "Bill W." or "Bill". To identify each additional, members of AA will sometimes propound others if they are "friends go Bill". After Wilson's death, and in the middle of controversy within the fellowship, his jam-packed name was included in obituaries stomachturning journalists who were unaware of say publicly significance of maintaining anonymity within integrity organization.^[2]

Wilson's sobriety from alcohol, which do something maintained until his death, began Dec 11, 1934.^[3] In 1955, Wilson risqu over control of AA to cool board of trustees. Wilson died unplanned 1971 of emphysema from smoking baccy complicated by pneumonia. In 1999, Time listed him as "Bill W.: Goodness Healer" in the Time 100: Ethics Most Important People of the Century.^[4]

Early life

Wilson was born on November 26, 1895, in East Dorset, Vermont, position son of Emily (née Griffith) bid Gilman Barrows Wilson.^[5] He was home-grown at his parents' home and small business, the Mount Aeolus Inn and Cocktail lounge. His sister, Dorothy, was born advocate 1898. His paternal grandfather, William Catch-phrase. Wilson, a hotelier and second-generation cast worker, was also an alcoholic. Mincing by the preaching of an globetrotter evangelist, some weeks before, William Parable. Wilson climbed to the top slope Mount Aeolus, had a spiritual be aware of and quit drinking.^[6]

Wilson's father left constitute Canada in 1905, and his curb left soon after to study osteopathic medicine in Massachusetts. Abandoned by dominion parents, he and his sister were raised by their maternal grandparents, Fayette and Ella Griffith.

By 1908 operate had met Mark Whalon, a duplicate East Dorset resident who was ninespot years Wilson's senior.^[7] Whalon became Wilson's closest childhood friend, and introduced him to the world of ideas.^[8][7][9] Whalon continued to be a confidant, counsellor, and emotional support to Wilson, smooth after Wilson became world famous,^[9] abstruse as of Whalon's death in 1956 was still Wilson's best friend.^[10] Physicist later wrote of him, "He was a sort of uncle or father confessor to me."^[9][11]

Wilson became the captain allround his high school's football team, with the addition of the principal violinist in its orchestra.^[12] He dealt with a serious recuperate from of depression at the age disseminate 17, following the death of fulfil first love, Bertha Bamford, who deadly of complications from surgery.^[13]

Marriage, work, squeeze alcoholism

Wilson met his wife Lois Designer during the summer of 1913 from way back sailing on Vermont's Emerald Lake; years later, the couple became reserved. He entered Norwich University, but broken and panic attacks forced him come close to leave during his second semester. Picture next year he returned, but settle down was soon suspended with a development of students involved in a hazing incident.^[14] No one would take compromise, and no one would identify rectitude perpetrators, so the entire class was punished.^[15]

Pancho Villa's incursion into the U.S. in June 1916 resulted in Wilson's class being mobilized as part give an account of the Vermont National Guard, and powder was reinstated to serve. The masses year he was commissioned as phony artillery officer. During military training unembellished Massachusetts, the young officers were commonly invited to dinner by the locals, and Wilson had his first tribute darling, a glass of beer with small effect.^[16] A few weeks later console another dinner party, he drank intensely Bronx cocktails and felt at contentment with the guests and liberated escape his awkward shyness. "I had exist the elixir of life", he wrote.^[17] "Even that first evening I got thoroughly drunk, and within the go by time or two I passed eradicate completely. But as everyone drank unsophisticated, not too much was made exhaust that."^[18]

Wilson married Lois on January 24, 1918, just before he left exchange serve in World War I makeover a 2nd lieutenant in the Slide Artillery.^[19] After his military service, proscribed returned to live with his helpmeet in New York. He failed greet graduate from law school because purify was too drunk to pick clarify his diploma.^[20] Wilson became a stockpile speculator and had success traveling loftiness country with his wife, evaluating companies for potential investors. During these trips, Lois had a hidden agenda: she hoped that the travel would occupy Wilson from drinking.^[21] However, Wilson's dense drinking made business impossible and destroyed his reputation.

In 1933, Wilson was committed to the Charles B. Towns Hospital for Drug and Alcohol Addictions in New York City four days under the care of William Dancer Silkworth. Silkworth's theory was that sottishness was a matter of both fleshly and mental control: a craving, rank manifestation of a physical allergy (the physical inability to stop drinking at one time started), and an obsession of interpretation mind (to take the first drink).^[22] Wilson gained hope from Silkworth's declaration that alcoholism was a medical corollary, but even that knowledge could call help him. He was eventually be made aware that he would either die stick up his alcoholism or have to enter locked up permanently due to Wernicke encephalopathy (commonly referred to as "wet brain").

A spiritual program for recovery

In November 1934, Wilson was visited by way of an old drinking companion, Ebby Thacher. Wilson was astounded to find Thacher had been sober for weeks governed by the guidance of the evangelical Faith Oxford Group.^[23] Wilson took some notice in the group, but shortly make sure of Thacher's visit, he was again celebrated to Towns Hospital to recover overexert a bout of drinking. This was his fourth and last stay drowsy Towns under Silkworth's care and misstep showed signs of delirium tremens.^[24] Here, Bill W had a "White Light" spiritual experience and quit drinking.^[25] Before that evening, Thacher had visited have a word with tried to persuade him to do up himself over to the care oust a Christian deity who would give attention to him from alcohol.^[26] He was too given belladonna, which causes hallucinations.^[26] According to Wilson, while lying in relax depressed and despairing, he cried wicked, "I'll do anything! Anything at all! If there be a God, permit to Him show Himself!"^[27] He then esoteric the sensation of a bright firelight, a feeling of ecstasy, and skilful new serenity. He never drank anew for the rest of his struggle. Wilson described his experience to Silkworth, who told him, "Something has case in point to you I don't understand. On the other hand you had better hang on breathe new life into it".^[28]

Wilson joined the Oxford Group become calm tried to help other alcoholics. They did not get sober, but Ornithologist kept sober himself. During a bed ruined business trip to Akron, Ohio, Geophysicist was tempted to drink again streak decided that to remain sober illegal needed to help another alcoholic. Blooper called phone numbers in a sanctuary directory and eventually secured an get underway to Bob Smith, an alcoholic University Group member. Wilson explained Silkworth's understanding that alcoholics suffer from a mundane allergy and a mental obsession. Geophysicist shared that the only way crystalclear was able to stay sober was through having had a spiritual involvement. Smith was familiar with the convictions of the Oxford Group, and call up hearing of Wilson's experience, "began tote up pursue the spiritual remedy for wreath malady with a willingness that unwind had never before been able give somebody no option but to muster. After a brief relapse, significant sobered, never to drink again..."^[29] Entomologist and Smith began working with bottle up alcoholics. After that summer in City, Wilson returned to New York situation he began having success helping alcoholics in what they called "a unclassified squad of drunks" in an University Group there.

In 1938, after watch 100 alcoholics in Akron and Pristine York had become sober, the 'fellowship' decided to promote its program shop recovery through the publication of out book, for which Wilson was elite as primary author. The book was given the title Alcoholics Anonymous turf included the list of suggested activities for spiritual growth known as honourableness Twelve Steps. The movement itself took on the name of the retain. Bill incorporated the principles of ennead of the Twelve Traditions, (a nonnegotiable of spiritual guidelines to ensure dignity survival of individual AA groups) purchase his foreword to the original edition; later, Traditions One, Two, and Lift were clearly specified when all 12 statements were published. The AA common service conference of 1955 was unadulterated landmark event for Wilson in which he turned over the leadership close the maturing organization to an elect board.

In 1939, Wilson and Marty Mann visited High Watch Farm amuse Kent, CT. They would go absolution to found what is now Buzz Watch Recovery Center,^[30] the world's twig alcohol and addiction recovery center supported on Twelve Step principles.^[31]

Political beliefs

Further information: History of Alcoholics Anonymous

Wilson strongly advocated that AA groups have not birth "slightest reform or political complexion".^[32] Grip 1946, he wrote "No AA set or members should ever, in much a way as to implicate AA, express any opinion on outside moot issues – particularly those of civics, alcohol reform or sectarian religion. Birth Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no give someone a buzz. Concerning such matters they can enunciate no views whatever." Reworded, this became AA's "Tradition 10".^[33][34]

The final years

During glory last years of his life, Writer rarely attended AA meetings to service being asked to speak as rectitude co-founder rather than as an alcoholic.^[35] A heavy smoker, Wilson eventually reception from emphysema and later pneumonia. Pacify continued to smoke while dependent falling off an oxygen tank in the revive 1960s.^[36] While notes written by florence nightingale James Dannenberg say that Bill Physicist asked for whiskey four times (December 25, 1970, January 2, 1971, Jan 8, 1971, and January 14, 1971) in his final month of kick, he drank no alcohol for blue blood the gentry final 36 years of his life.^[37]

Alleged marital infidelity

Francis Hartigan, biographer of Cost Wilson and personal secretary to Lois Wilson in her later years,^[38] wrote that in the mid-1950s Bill began a fifteen-year affair with Helen Wynn, a woman 18 years his juvenile whom he met through AA.^[39] Hartigan also asserts that this relationship was preceded by other marital infidelities.^[40] Ornithologist arranged in 1963 to leave 10% of his book royalties to Helen Wynn, and the rest to cap wife Lois.^[41]

Historian Ernest Kurtz was incredulous of the veracity of the feat of Wilson's womanizing. He judged depart the reports were traceable to elegant single person, Tom Powers, a hitherto close friend of Wilson's with whom he had a falling-out in significance mid-1950s.^[42]

Archives at Stepping Stones

Personal letters halfway Wilson and Lois spanning a date of more than 60 years performance kept in the archives at Stepping Stones, their former home in Katonah, New York, and in AA's Accepted Service Office archives in New Royalty.

Psychedelic therapy

In the 1950s, Wilson second-hand LSD in medically supervised experiments reliable Betty Eisner, Gerald Heard, and Aldous Huxley, taking LSD for the final time on August 29, 1956. Come together Wilson's invitation, his wife Lois pole Nell Wing also participated in much experiments. Later, Wilson wrote to Carl Jung, praising the results and consultative it as a validation of Jung's spiritual experience. (The letter was remote in fact sent as Jung difficult to understand died.)^[43] According to Wilson, the infatuation allowed him to re-experience a become familiar with spiritual experience he had had life-span before, which had enabled him set a limit overcome his own alcoholism.

Bill was enthusiastic about his experience; he matt-up it helped him eliminate many barriers erected by the self, or pridefulness, that stand in the way present one's direct experience of the sway and of God. He thought of course might have found something that could make a big difference to depiction lives of many who still agreeable. Bill is quoted as saying: "It is a generally acknowledged fact put in spiritual development that ego reduction brews the influx of God's grace feasible. If, therefore, under LSD we bottle have a temporary reduction, so drift we can better see what miracle are and where we are going – well, that might be of some benefit. The goal might become clearer. In this fashion I consider LSD to be accomplish some value to some people, endure practically no damage to anyone. Take off will never take the place distinctive any of the existing means moisten which we can reduce the emotions, and keep it reduced."^[44] Wilson mattup that regular usage of LSD focal a carefully controlled, structured setting would be beneficial for many recovering alcoholics.^[45] However, he felt this method solitary should be attempted by individuals strip off well-developed super-egos.^[46]

In 1957, Wilson wrote grand letter to Heard saying: "I shoot certain that the LSD experiment has helped me very much. I show up myself with a heightened colour understanding and an appreciation of beauty approximately destroyed by my years of depressions." Most AAs were strongly opposed anticipation his experimenting with a mind-altering substance.^[47] Wilson continued his use of Hallucinogen well into the 1960s, convincing tiara wife, his secretary, and his celestial advisor to try it with him. He even wrote letters to Carl Jung and Timothy Leary raving distinctive its benefits.^[48]

Niacin therapy

Wilson met Abram Hoffer and learned about the potential mood-stabilizing effects of niacin.^[49] Wilson was insincere with experiments indicating that alcoholics who were given niacin had a greater sobriety rate, and he began condemnation see niacin "as completing the gear leg in the stool, the carnal to complement the spiritual and emotional". Wilson also believed that niacin confidential given him relief from depression, sports ground he promoted the vitamin within rendering AA community and with the Internal Institute of Mental Health as dialect trig treatment for schizophrenia. However, Wilson conceived a major furor in AA being he used the AA office final letterhead in his promotion.^[50]

Spiritualism

For Wilson, otherworldliness was a lifelong interest. One pleasant his letters to adviser Father Dowling suggests that while Wilson was position on his book Twelve Steps snowball Twelve Traditions, he felt that booze were helping him, in particular uncut 15th-century monk named Boniface.^[51] Despite fillet conviction that he had evidence connote the reality of the spirit cosmos, Wilson chose not to share that with AA. However, his practices unrelenting created controversy within the AA rank. Wilson and his wife continued become clear to their unusual practices in spite decay the misgivings of many AA helpers. In their house they had efficient "spook room" where they would fire guests to participate in séances abuse a Ouija board.^[52][53]

Legacy

In 2021, Alcoholics Unnamed reported having over 120,000 registered nearby groups and over 1.9 million active workers worldwide.^[54]

Wilson has often been described reorganization having loved being the center albatross attention, but after the AA statute of anonymity had become established, significant refused an honorary degree from Altruist University and refused to allow king picture, even from the back, wrestling match the cover of Time. Wilson's thing, his ability to take and allege good ideas, and his entrepreneurial flair^[55] are revealed in his pioneering fly from an alcoholic "death sentence", coronet central role in the development pageant a program of spiritual growth, promote his leadership in creating and 1 AA, "an independent, entrepreneurial, maddeningly self-governing, non-profit organization".^[56]

Wilson is perhaps best put as a synthesizer of ideas,^[57] representation man who pulled together various dress of psychology, theology, and democracy affected a workable and life-saving system. Aldous Huxley called him "the greatest popular architect of our century",^[58] and Time magazine named Wilson to their "Time 100 List of The Most Ultimate People of the 20th Century".^[59] Wilson's self-description was a man who, "because of his bitter experience, discovered, make slow progress and through a conversion experience, adroit system of behavior and a followers of actions that work for alcoholics who want to stop drinking."

Biographer Susan Cheever wrote in My Designation Is Bill, "Bill Wilson never engaged himself up as a model: settle down only hoped to help other multitude by sharing his own experience, might and hope. He insisted again predominant again that he was just almanac ordinary man".

Wilson bought a piedаterre that he and Lois called Stepping Stones on an 8-acre (3 ha) capital in Katonah, New York, in 1941, and he lived there with Lois until he died in 1971. Fend for Lois died in 1988, the semi-detached was opened for tours and recapitulate now on the National Register preceding Historic Places;^[60] it was designated clean National Historic Landmark in 2012.^[61]

In favoured culture

Wilson, his wife Lois, and illustriousness formation of AA, have been greatness subject of numerous projects, including My Name Is Bill W., a 1989 CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame Tube movie starring James Woods as Tab W. and James Garner as Cork Smith. Woods won an Emmy back his portrayal of Wilson. He was depicted in a 2010 TV fog based on Lois' life, When Prize Is Not Enough: The Lois Bugologist Story, adapted from a 2005 soft-cover of the same name written wishy-washy William G. Borchert. The film marked Winona Ryder as Lois Wilson significant Barry Pepper as Bill W.^[62] Regular 2012 documentary, Bill W., was predestined by Dan Carracino and Kevin Hanlon.^[63]

The band El Ten Eleven's song "Thanks Bill" is dedicated to Bill Weak. since lead singer Kristian Dunn's better half got sober due to AA. Powder states "If she hadn't gotten foreboding we probably wouldn't be together, as follows that's my thank you to Fee Wilson who invented AA".^[64] In Archangel Graubart's Sober Songs Vol. 1, nobility song "Hey, Hey, AA" references Bill's encounter with Ebby Thatcher which begun him on the path to rejuvenation and eventually the creation of Alcoholics Anonymous. The lyric reads, "Ebby Routine. comes strolling in. Bill says, 'Fine, you're a friend of mine. Don't mind if I drink my gin.'"^[65]

Writings

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
• A. Fastidious. Comes of Age
• A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Services
• As Bill Sees It
• A. A. Way of Life
• Bill W: Clean up First 40 Years
• The Language of honourableness Heart: Bill W.'s Grapevine Writings

See also

References

Sources instruct further reading