william e. wilson was born in 1906, the son of william e. wilson, who served as a member of congress. the younger wilson spent much of his childhood in or around evansville, indiana. he graduated from harvard university, served as a lieutenant commander in the u.s. navy, and spent two years as a fulbright scholar at aix-marseille university, grenoble and nice, france before landing at baltimore, maryland where he became assistant editor of the baltimore sun. he married ellen janet cameron.