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Apr 23, 1564
The Birth Place of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire. This is a Picture of his house. You can go and see it and pay to go inside.William was born in April, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Although the exact date of William's birth is unknown, we recognize his birthday on April 23. This date was chosen because William was baptized on April 26, and it was customary to baptize children three days after they were born. -
Period: Apr 23, 1564 to
William Shakespeare Life span
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Jan 1, 1571
start of school for Shakespeare
There are no specific records relating to the education of William Shakespeare or his attendance at school but reasonable assumptions can be made based on the information that is available William Shakespeare's parents were both his father's election to the position of Alderman in Stratford-upon-Avon brought with it free education for his sons. William Shakespeare would have attended King Edward IV Grammar School in Stratford-upon-Avon from the age of 7 in 1571. -
Jan 1, 1577
Graduation day for Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was withdrawn from education in 1577 at the age of fourteen due to his father's financial problems. Boys would normally attended Grammar school until they reached the age of fourteen when they would have continued their education at University.William Shakespeare therefore missed any form of higher education where he would have had the choice of studying the Arts, Philosophy, Rhetoric, Poetry, History, Music, Astronomy, Arithmetic, Geometry, Theology, Law or Medicine. -
Married to Hathaway
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on November 28. Anne was 8 years older than William. Anne would not have attended any school and was therefore illiterate. She would have seen marriage as an important event - when she met William Shakespeare she was 25/26 years old and probably was viewed as being 'left on the shelf' - but she did have a dowry! A dowry consisted of money, goods, and/or property that a woman might bring tmight bring to a marriage. -
the birth of Susanna
Just six months after their marriage Anne and William became the parents of their first daughter - Susanna Shakespeare The baptism of Susanna Shakespeare was conducted on May 26, in Stratford Parish Church -
the birth of the twins
Anne and William's twins, Hamnet and Judith, were born two years after Susanna. Hamnet and Judith Shakespeare were baptised on February 2nd 1585.The twins were named after two very close friends of William and Anne, the baker Hamnet Sadler and his wife, Judith. -
The Bubonic Plague
William Shakespeare was terrified of the Bubonic Plague -( also known as the black plague) and who can blame him? England had been ravaged by outbreaks of the plague since the 1300's He lost his sisters Joan, Margaret ( just babies) and Anne (aged 7) to the deadly plague He also lost his brother Edmund (aged 27). -
The Start of Shakespeare's Writings
The year which can best be labeled the starting point of Shakespeare’s career is 1592. At this time Robert Greene, another Elizabethan playwright, wrote about Shakespeare, calling him an “upstart crow.” From this we can concluded that by this time he was well-known enough to get the recognition of another playwright. Although Shakespeare was writing during the next few years, many of the theaters were closed due to the plague and he did not get much public recognition. -
Shakespeare's acting days
In 1594 theaters had opened again and Shakespeare instantaneously launched himself; performing with a group called The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. In the years 1594-1599 Shakespeare’s career was at its peak; He produced about two plays every year, performing some of them. Scholars estimate that he made 200-250 pounds every year, a high income in those days. There were rumours that he had been accused of poaching and fled to London to avoid prosecution - but there is no documented evidence. -
The death of Hamnet
There were constant outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague, otherwise known as the Black Death or the Black Plague, during Elizabethan times and in 1596 Hamnet contracted the deadly disease and died at the age of eleven. Shakespeare's son Hamnet was buried in Stratford on August 11, 1596. -
the Gobe Theatre
They started in 1597 and it was finished in 1598.The Globe was built in a similar style to the Coliseum, but on a smaller scale. Never-the-less it still had an audience capacity of over 1500 people and this amount increased to 3000 when people mingling outside the grounds
To announce the opening of the new theatre, the Chamberlain’s Men flew a flag featuring the figure of Hercules carrying a Globe on his shoulders. -
THE RETIREMENT OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
In 1610 William Shakespeare appears to have retired to Stratford-upon-Avon. He had left his home in Stratford for London sometime before 1592 - an absence of nearly 20 years. He had lived in lodgings in London before buying his own house, a gatehouse to the main entrance to the vast monastery of the Black Friars next to Blackfriars Theatre
Shakespeare had become rich and famous living in London but had kept business interests in his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon -
Fire at the globe theatre
There were smoke effects, fireworks (for dramatic battle scenes), trap-doors and rigging which allowed for flying entrances. There was even music to accompany the plays!The acting company became more ambitious with their ideas for special effects!Someone had the idea of using a real cannon on the stage! This would be used at the beginning of a performance and would have produced an amazing sound effect!Safety issues were not discussed! Fire hazards were ignored! -
The Death of Shakespeare
The cause of Shakespeare's death is unknown - he died April 23rd 1616 at the age of 52 (William Shakespeare's birth date has been estimated as 26th April 1564)The exact date of death is not known but it seems fitting that he died on April 23rd April, the same date given for his birth. -
Shakespeare's curse
In Shakespeare's day it was customary to move bones from the graveyard, and the tombs within the church, into a charnel house to make way for more burials. From time to time, the bones in the charnel house were burned. This was commonly known as the bonefire (thus bonfire) of the vanities. Shakespeare was having none of that! He had the following curse inscribed on his grave:
BLESE BE THE MAN THAT SPARES THES STONES,
AND CURST BE HE THAT MOVES MY BONES.
