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Apr 23, 1564
Birth
William Shakespeare is born in Stratford upon Avon to local tanner John and Mary Shakespeare. His actual birthday is unknown but assumed and celebrated today on April the 23rd, just three days before his baptism was recorded in the Parish register of the Holy Trinity Church on April the 26th. -
Sep 1, 1571
Education
Shakespeare is likely to have begun his formal education. By local tradition, children in the Stratford area, entered the local grammar school at age seven. -
Jul 9, 1575
Childhood Impressions
Queen Elizabeth pays a visit to Kenilworth Castle, just a short journey from Stratford. Legend has it that an impressionable eleven-year-old William saw the Queen’s procession, and recreated it several times later in his historical and dramatic plays. -
Marriage
Shakespeare is in love... At age 18, he marries the considerably older Anne Hathaway (26 years old) from Shottery on November the 27th at Temple Grafton, a village just five short miles (8 km) from Stratford. -
First Child
Susanna, William and Anne Shakespeare’s first child, is born just five months after Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s wedding. She lived 66 years. -
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Vanished
Shakespeare is believed to have left his family in Stratford to join a company of actors as both playwright and performer, starting his career in theatre. -
Twins
Shakespeare’s twins, Judith and Hamnet are born, Hamnet living only eleven years whilst Judith lived 77. -
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Henry VI
Shakespeare is believed to have written Henry VI. -
London Theaatre
Shakespeare begins to be noticed as a force within London theatre; Robert Greene’s Groatworth of Wit famously calls Shakespeare an "upstart crow". He attacks Shakespeare as lacking originality since he borrows ideas from others for his own plays. Academics see this criticism as proof that Shakespeare was in London at this time. Theatres in London close because of the plague. -
Period: to
The poem Venus and Adonis and the plays Richard III and The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Shakespeare is thought to have written the poem Venus and Adonis and the plays Richard III and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. -
Period: to
The Comedy of Errors
The Comedy of Errors written in this time. -
First Sonnets
Shakespeare begins to compose the first of what will amount to a 154 sonnet collection. His narrative poem Venus and Adonis is his first ever published. -
Period: to
The Rape of Lucrece, Titus Andronicus and The Taming of the Shrew
The Rape of Lucrece, Titus Andronicus and The Taming of the Shrew are thought to have been penned by Shakespeare at this time. -
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a theatre troupe including distinguished actor Richard Burbage and comic Will Kemp performs with Shakespeare in their group -
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King John
King John is assumed to have been written -
A busy year
A busy year for Shakespeare as he is thought to have composed Richard II performed that very same year, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, thought to be composed for a wedding and the greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet. -
Love's Labour’s Lost
Shakespeare pens Love's Labour’s Lost. -
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor is thought to have been written. The Lord Chamberlain’s Men lose their original patron, Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon and Lord Chamberlain to be replaced by his brother George Carey, Second Lord Hunsdon, who succeeds his late brother. -
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is thought to have been written. -
Playwright and Actor
William is thought to have written the play Henry IV, Part Two and Shakespeare’s reputation as an actor is confirmed by his performance in Ben Jonson’s Every Man in his Humor which clearly lists his name as a principal actor in the London play. -
Much Ado About Nothing
William writes the play Much Ado About Nothing. -
The Globe theatre
The Globe theatre was opened. -
Hamlet
Shakespeare is thought to have composed arguably his greatest play, Hamlet at this time. -
Measure for Measure , Othello
Measure for Measure is believed to have been written in this year. It is later performed at King James I Court. Othello is also penned, being performed on November the 1st at Whitehall. -
King Lear
King Lear is believed to have been composed. -
Antony And Cleopatra
Antony And Cleopatra is believed to have been composed. -
The Winter’s Tale
The Winter’s Tale is written. -
The Tempest
The Tempest was written. -
Fire
The Globe Theatre burns to the ground. The Two Noble Kinsmen is penned. A 1634 entry within the Stationer’s Registry confirms that both William Shakespeare and John Fletcher composed this play. -
Reopening
The Globe Theatre reopens. -
Death
William dies on April 23rd, his burial being recorded in the Stratford Holy Church Register two days later.
