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.
He was the son of Thomas Wilson, a farmer from Strubby in Lincolnshire. He received his education at Eton College under Nicholas Udall and King's College, Cambridge, where he joined the school of Hellenists alongside John Cheke, Thomas Smith, Walter Haddon, and others.