-
Apr 23, 1564
Birth
William is born in the small town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Very few personal details of his childhood are known. -
Jan 1, 1569
Shakespeare Starts School
Scholars assume he attended the King's New School, as that is where the child of an alderman would conceivably go, but there is little proof. There is evidence, however, that he did not attend university anywhere. -
Marries
Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway. Within three years, they have three children, Susana, Hamnet, and Judith. -
Moves to London
Shakespeare moves to London in the late 1580's to pursue a career in the theater. -
First Play Performed
Shakespeare's first play, Henry VI Part 1, is performed. -
Criticism
Rival playwright Robert Greene writes a scathing review of Shakespeare, calling him an “upstart crow” who doesn’t fit in with his betters. -
Bubonic Plague
The Black Death returns to London, killing 5% of the city's inhabitants and shutting down theaters. Shakespeare uses this time to turn to his poetry. -
Lord Chamberlain's Men
With theaters reopened, Shakespeare joins the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a company of players supported by Queen Elizabeth I -
Romeo & Juliet
Romeo + Juliet is first performed. -
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is first performed. -
The Globe Theatre
Shakespeare builds the largest open-air amphitheatre in London: The Globe Theatre. -
Hamlet
Shakespeare writes Hamlet, perhaps inspired by the death of his own father -
The King's Men
King James becomes William's patron, for whom Shakespeare’s company performs 11 times. -
Othello
Othello is first performed. -
Macbeth
Macbeth is first performed -
Retirement
Shakespeare retires from theater and returns to Stratford. -
Death
Shakespeare dies.
