In Esslingen, where his father was later appointed Senior Judge at the District Court, Wilhelm attended Esslinger Gymnasium (known today as the Georgii-Gymnasium) until he was 14 and successfully completed his state exams (which were a prerequisite for entry into Blaubeuren Abbey).
After completing his law studies in Tübingen and Heidelberg, Breitling entered the Württemberg civil service and worked at various court locations beginning in 1860.
[1] On 15 April 1901, Breitling also took over the leadership of the overall government of the Kingdom of Württemberg after his predecessor, Max Schott von Schottenstein, had to resign due to a scandal.
[1] In September 1901, Breitling took part in memorial services in Stuttgart for the American President, William McKinley, who had been assassinated.
This principle of a monarchical authoritarian state did not change in liberal Württemberg until the Liesching government two days before the German Revolution.