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Sep 7, 1533
Queen Elizabeth the First is Born
Queen Elizabeth is born in Greenwich Palace -
May 18, 1554
The Queen is Imprisoned
Elizabeth is imprisoned in The Tower of London and then Woodstock Manor. -
May 19, 1554
The Queen is Freed
Elizabeth is taken from the Tower to be closely confined at Woodstock Manor, Oxfordshire. -
Jan 15, 1559
Queen Elizabeth's Coronation
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Apr 23, 1564
William Shakespeare is Born
William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-upon-Avon to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. The date is unknown, but since it is tradition to get baptized after three days of birth, people say that he was born on April 23, 1564, since he was baptized on April 26, 1564. -
Apr 26, 1564
Baptism
William Shakespeare is baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. -
1582
Shakespeare Marries
William Shakespeare marries 26 year-old Anne Hathaway at the age of 18. -
First Child
William Shakespeare's first daughter, Susanna, is born six month after his marriage. -
Shakespeare Has Twins
Sometime around the end of January, twins are born and are named after Shakespeare's good friends: Hamnet and Judith. -
Plague Closes Theaters
London theaters are closed due to an outbreak of bubonic plague that eventually kills about five percent of the city's residents. -
Venus and Adonis
Shakespeare publishes "Venus and Adonis," his first long published poem. It is dedicated to his patron Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton. -
Theaters Reopen
In the spring of 1594, the London theaters reopen to the public. They accept frequent invitations to perform in the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I. -
The Rape of Lucrece
Shakespeare publishes "The Rape of Lucrece" Shakespeare purchases shares in the Chamberlain's Men. -
Death of Hamnet
William and Anne bury their only son, Hamnet, who dies at the age of 11 of unknown causes. -
New Home
Wealthy thanks to his theater work and shrewd investments, Shakespeare buys New Place, the second-largest house in Stratford. -
Shakespeare is Praised
Writer Francis Meres publishes a glowing review of Shakespeare's work. Shakespeare has become a noted playwright with at least a dozen plays under his belt. -
Globe Theater Built
The Chamberlain's Men build the Globe, a wooden theater in London. Many of Shakespeare's most famous plays are performed for the first time here. -
Dark Times
Shakespeare's father dies and his friend Earl Southampton is sentenced to death for his role in the Essex rebellion. It is believed that his father's death motivates Shakespeare to write Hamlet around this time. Shakespeare's plays over the next few years have a dark, brooding tone. -
The Queen's Death
Queen Elizabeth I dies and James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England. -
Shakespeare Dies
Suffering from an unknown illness, William Shakespeare dies on his 52nd birthday.
