Wilhelm Zimmermann was born in Germany in 1807. He became a historian and a member of the Heidelberg school of historians. From 1847 to 1850, Zimmermann taught history at the Oberrealscule in Stuttgart, Germany. He was a democrat in philosophy and belief. Accordingly, he took part in the revolutionary uprising in Germany

Revolutions of 1848 in the German states

The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states, also called the March Revolution – part of the Revolutions of 1848 that broke out in many countries of Europe – were a series of loosely coordinated protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, including the Austrian Empire...

 in 1848 through 1849. In 1848, he was elected as a deputy to the Frankfurt National Assembly. At assembly, he caucused with the "Left wing" deputies. In 1850, Zimmermann was dismissed from his position as a teacher at the Oberrealschule because of his participation in the revolution of 1848-1849 and because of his caucusing with the Left wing in the Frankfurt Assembly. Zimmermann died in 1878.