William was born to a man who had strong negative opinions about working for the American government and about Nicholas Ballard and his grandson. William eventually went to Cambridge University for graduate school where he was classmates with Doctor Radek Zelenka. Due to his own strong opinions about US policy and how he didn't think one should aid it in any way, William had an argument in which he said nasty things to Zelenka when he discovered that he was going to work for the American government. Despite his views, William eventually went to work for the SGC as an archeologist under Doctor Daniel Jackson. (SGA: "Allegiance")