He was the son of Thomas Wilson, a farmer, of Strubby, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Eton College under Nicholas Udall, and at King's College, Cambridge, where he joined the school of Hellenists to which John Cheke, Thomas Smith, Walter Haddon and others belonged.
Thomas Wilson’s son was educated first at Eton College by Nicholas Udall and later at King's College, Cambridge. He studied in the Hellenist school there, which included students like John Cheke, Thomas Smith, Walter Haddon, and others.