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William Shakespeare
1564-1616
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Who Was William Shakespeare?
William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor of the Renaissance era. He was an important member of the King’s Men theatrical company from roughly 1594 onward. Known throughout the world, Shakespeare’s works—at least 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative poems—capture the range of human emotion and conflict and have been celebrated for more than 400 years. Details about his personal life are limited, though some believe he was born and died on the same day, April 23, 52 years apart.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: William Shakespeare
BORN: c. April 23, 1564
DIED: c. April 23, 1616
BIRTHPLACE: Stratford-upon-Avon, England, United Kingdom
SPOUSE: Anne Hathaway (1582-1616)
CHILDREN: Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Taurus
Early Life
The personal life of William Shakespeare is somewhat of a mystery. There are two primary sources that provide historians with an outline of his life. One is his work, and the other is official documentation such as church and court records. However, these provide only brief sketches of specific events in his life and yield little insight into the man himself.
When Was Shakespeare Born?
No birth records exist, but an old church record indicates that William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564. From this, it is believed he was born on or near April 23, 1564, and this is the date scholars acknowledge as Shakespeare’s birthday. Located about 100 miles northwest of London, Stratford-upon-Avon was a bustling market town along the River Avon and bisected by a country road during Shakespeare’s time.
Parents and Siblings
Shakespeare was the third child of John Shakespeare, a glove-maker and leather merchant, and Mary Arden, a local heiress to land. John held official positions as alderman and bailiff, an office resembling a mayor. However, records indi
Please take your seats, the show is about to commence! All settled? Then let’s discover the life of the ‘greatest ever playwright’ in our fascinating Shakespeare facts…
William Shakespeare facts
Full name: William Shakespeare.
Born: Exact date unknown, but baptised 26 April 1564.
Hometown: Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
Occupation: Playwright, actor and poet.
Died: 23 April 1616.
Best known for: Writing hugely successful theatre plays!
Also known as: The Bard of Avon.
1) During his lifetime, William Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays for the theatre and over 150 poems! No one can say the exact number, because some of his work may have been lost over time – and some may have been written with the help of other people.
2) William was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, during England’s Tudor period. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a well-to-do glove-maker and leather worker, and his wife, Mary Arden, an heiress from a wealthy family.
3) Very little is known about William Shakespeare’s early years. In fact, his actual date of birth remains a mystery to this day! But it’s believed he had a good upbringing, attended a good school and enjoyed playing outdoors a lot.
Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable William Shakespeare primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!
4) In 1582, William married a farmer’s daughter called Anne Hathaway. They had three children together – a daughter called Susanna, and twins, Judith and Hamnet.
5) Come 1585, the mysterious William Shakespeare disappeared from records for around seven years! Historians often refer to this part of the writer’s life as ‘the lost years‘…
6) Then, in 1592 he suddenly turned up in London as an actor and playwright. But poor William didn’t have it eas
Biography.com’s Ultimate William Shakespeare Study Guide
In this study guide, we explore the life and legacy of William Shakespeare. Through his iconic plays and poems, you’ll learn why his works continue to be studied, performed, and celebrated worldwide.
Learning Objectives
Through this study guide, students will:
1. demonstrate an understanding of themes and characters in three of Shakespeare’s most important plays.
2. demonstrate an understanding of language and literary structure in Shakespeare’s sonnets.
3. examine Shakespeare’s life and times to understand the historical context for his work.
4. explore Shakespeare’s lasting legacy on our language and popular culture.
Who Was William Shakespeare?
While many details surrounding the life of William Shakespeare remain unclear, scholars believe he was born around April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, a market town some 100 miles from London. His father was John Shakespeare, a glove-maker who also served as an elected official before suffering business losses that left his family in debt beginning when William was in his teens. William’s mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a wealthy nearby landowner.
William was the third of eight children, two of whom died in infancy and another who died before age 10. His younger sister, Joan, was the only sibling to outlive the famous playwright, who left her money, clothing, and the deed to the family home in his later will. Scholars believe there is strong evidence that the Shakespeare family was Catholic, a fact they would have likely kept secret due to anti-Catholic sentiment following the Reformation of the English church earlier in the 16 century.
Illustration of Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare likely attended the nearby grammar school, and while some scholars have expressed doubt that Shakespeare’s education was comprehensive enough to allow him to create his later work, it’s now believed that the Stratfor Shakespeare is England’s most celebrated dramatist and poet. His works have been translated into 80 languages, including Star Trek’s Klingon. He helped shape the English we use today, introducing up to 300 words and dozens of well-known phrases. His plays are known around the world for their universal themes and insight into the human condition. Yet much about the playwright is a mystery. Historians don’t know his date of birth, where he was educated or how he spent seven years of his life. There is no record of Shakespeare’s birth, but his christening is recorded. It was usual for christenings to take place on the third day after birth. He was born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who had recently converted England to Protestantism. Shakespeare’s parents had been Catholics, and the tension between the new and old religions can be seen in much of his work. William’s father, John Shakespeare, was a member of the borough council of Stratford-upon-Avon. William was the third of eight children, though his two elder siblings did not survive childhood. Details of Shakespeare’s schooling are unknown. It is likely that he began his education at the age of six or seven. As his father was now a bailiff, young William probably attended the local grammar school. Its curriculum emphasised Greek classics and pupils also learned plays in Latin. Religious education was also important, and Shakespeare drew on these sources in his later work with classical and religious allusions. Shakespeare probably attended school until about age 15. There is no record of him going to university. Shakespeare married the 26-year-old Anne Hathaway, in 1582 when he was 18. She was already three months pregnant with their first child. The baptisms of his three children are the last record of him for s
Not of an age, but for all time
26 April 1564
William Shakespeare christened
1571
Shakespeare’s education
1585-1592
Marriage and the lost years