Wilhelm Fresenius was born in Berlin on July 17, 1913.

After successfully completing his chemistry studies at the University of Frankfurt with a doctorate, he took over the management of the chemical laboratory founded by his great-grandfather Carl Remigius Fresenius in 1949. During this time, the Fresenius Institute in Taunusstein developed into the German market leader for food analysis.

In his scientific work, Fresenius endeavored to improve the quality of drinking and mineral water and other foods.

He was politically active for twenty years as a member of the Wiesbaden city council and was chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the town hall. The Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Idstein and the Wilhelm Fresenius Clinic in Wiesbaden are named after him.

On 12 December 1985, the Hessian state capital honored him with the award of honorary citizenship and an entry in the city's Golden Book.

Wilhelm Fresenius died in Wiesbaden on July 31, 2004.