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Period: 1558 to
Queen Elizabeth 1
Elizabeth 1 supported plays and Shakespeare during her rule. She built an acting company, "Queens Men", that Shakespeare was an active member of. Her death brought the tragic themes of Shakespeare plays. -
Apr 23, 1564
Shakespeare's Birth
William Shakespeare was born on August 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, to parents John and Mary Shakespeare. he is the third of eight children. -
Apr 26, 1564
Baptism
He was baptized on April 26, 1564 at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. -
1571
School
Shakespeare most likely went to King Edward's free Grammar School located in Stratford. it is believed that he dropped out by 15. -
Shakespeare's Marriage
Shakespeare is married to Anne Hathaway at age 18 on November 28, 1582. -
His First Child
On May 26, 1583, the reason for their early marriage became known. Their first daughter, Susanna was baptized. -
Period: to
Shakespeare's "Lost Years"
There is very little information from this time in Shakespeare's life which coined the term ''Lost Years''. Historians believe that during this time he may have studied law, worked as a schoolteacher, or traveled across Europe. -
Twins
Nearly two years later, on February 2, 1585, a set of twins, Hamnet and Judith, born into the Shakespeare family, were baptized. Hamnet died at age 11. -
First Play
It is believed that part one of Shakespeare's first play, "Henry VI" was written in 1590. -
Bad Review
While working on his career as an actor and writer in London, Shakespeare had made a new name for himself in the eyes of Robert Greene. In a Greene review, he mentioned Shakespeare as an "upstart crow". -
Plague
London's theaters were closed own due to a plague outbreak in 1593. During this time, Shakespeare wrote his first narrative poem "Venus and Adonis". The theaters were reopened in 1594. -
His Company
Shakespeare would strengthen his career and become an important member and best dramatist of Lord Chamberlain's company of players. -
The Globe
The first Globe was built by Shakespeare and his business partners in 1599 on the south bank of Thames. Citizens could go here to watch plays without the control of public authority. -
Period: to
King James 1
During King James's reign, Shakespeare wrote many plays including "Macbeth", "King Lear", and "Antony and Cleopatra". The acting company that Shakespeare was a part of was renamed King's Men. -
Return to Stratford
Shakespeare finally returned to Stratford, where his wife and married daughters lived, after having lived in London since 1585. -
Globe Burns Down
The Globe burns down after a stage cannon misfires during a performance of "Henry VII". -
Globe Rebuilt
The Globe is rebuilt after burning down. -
His Will
On March 25, 1616, a sick Shakespeare made a three page will that included leaving his "second best bed" to his wife. This arises the suspicion that they might have not gotten along and were very distant. -
Shakespeare's Death
Shakespeare died on the day he was born at the age of 52. -
Publication
Shakespeare never intended for his plays to be written. after his death, two of his fellow King's Men colleagues, John Heminges and Henry Condell, collected and published 36 of his plays in a volume known as the "First Folio".
