-
Apr 23, 1564
The beginning of the life of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in the town Stratford-upon-Avon (a County Warwickshire) in 1564, according to tradition, April 23. His father, John Shakespeare, was a wealthy craftsman (Glover) and the moneylender, often elected to various public positions once he was elected mayor of the city. He did not visit Church divine services, for which he paid large fines (perhaps he was a secret Catholic). His mother, née Arden, belonged to one of the oldest of English surnames. -
Apr 26, 1564
Early Life
Though no birth records exist, church records indicate that a William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564. From this, it is believed he was born on or near April 23, 1564, and this is the date scholars acknowledge as William Shakespeare's birthday. -
Mar 18, 1569
School
Scant records exist of William's childhood, and virtually none regarding his education. Scholars have surmised that he most likely attended the King's New School, in Stratford, which taught reading, writing and the classics. Being a public official's child, William would have undoubtedly qualified for free tuition. But this uncertainty regarding his education has led some to raise questions about the authorship of his work and even about whether or not William Shakespeare ever existed. -
Married Life
William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582, in Worcester, in Canterbury Province. Hathaway was from Shottery, a small village a mile west of Stratford. William was 18 and Anne was 26, and, as it turns out, pregnant. Their first child, a daughter they named Susanna, was born on May 26, 1583. Two years later, on February 2, 1585, twins Hamnet and Judith were born. Hamnet later died of unknown causes at age 11 -
London and theatrical career
It is not known exactly when Shakespeare began writing, but contemporary allusions and records of performances show that several of his plays were on the London stage by 1592. By then, he was sufficiently well known in London to be attacked in print by the playwright Robert Greene in his Groats-Worth of Wit:...there is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his Tiger's heart wrapped in a Player's hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of you: -
Theatrical Beginnings
By 1592, there is evidence William Shakespeare earned a living as an actor and a playwright in London and possibly had several plays produced. The September 20, 1592 edition of the Stationers' Register (a guild publication) includes an article by London playwright Robert Greene that takes a few jabs at William Shakespeare: "...There is an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his Tiger's heart wrapped in a Player's hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as -
Heinrich
In 1599 Shakespeare became a shareholder of the Globe Theatre in London. The work of Shakespeare as a playwright is subdivided into three periods. Written in the first period, Shakespeare mostly history plays like "Henry VI", and comedies with strong elements of farce ("the Comedy of errors" -
Sonnets
His main achievement as a poet is his sonnets, first published in 1609. A sonnet is a poem consisting of 14 lines, with morals at the end. The sonnets are addressed to some "W. N." and the mysterious "Dark lady of the sonnets". The sonnets dealt with the great themes of love, friendship, death, change and immortality. -
Death
William Shakespeare died on his birthday, April 23, 1616, though many scholars believe this is a myth. Church records show he was interred at Trinity Church on April 25, 1616
