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Learn about the life and work of the world-famous playwright and poet, from his birth and marriage to his plays and poems. Discover his achievements, challenges, curiosities and legacy in this fascinating article.
- Shakespeare’s Father Made Gloves For A Living
- Shakespeare Was Born 23rd April 1564
- Shakespeare Had Seven Siblings
- Shakespeare Married An Older, Pregnant Lady at 18
- Shakespeare Had Three Children
- Shakespeare Moved to London as A Young Man
- Shakespeare Was An Actor, as Well as A Writer
- Shakespeare Wore A Gold Hoop Earing
- Shakespeare Became Very Wealthy
- Shakespeare Lived Between London and Stratford
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Shakespeare’s parents were John and Mary Shakespeare (nee Arden). John came to Stratford upon Avon from Snitterfield before 1532 as an apprentice glover and tanner of leathers. He prospered and began to deal in farm products and wool before being elected to a multitude of civic positions.
There is documentary proof that Shakespeare was baptised on 26th April 1564, and scholars believe that, in keeping with the traditions of the time, he would have been baptised when he was three days old, meaning Shakespeare was probably born on April 23rd. However, as Shakespeare was born under the old Julian calendar, what was April 23rd during Sh...
Shakespeare had seven siblings: Joan (b 1558, only lived 2 months); Margaret (b 1562); Gilbert (b 1566); another Joan (b 1569); Anne (b 1571); Richard (b 1574) and Edmund (b 1580). Read more about Shakespeare’s family.
Shakespeare married his wife Anne Hathawaywhen he was 18. She was 26 and three months pregnant with Shakespeare’s child when they married. Their first child Susanna was born six months after the wedding.
Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway had three children together – a son, Hamnet, who died in 1596, and two daughters, Susanna and Judith. His only granddaughter Elizabeth – daughter of Susanna – died childless in 1670. Shakespeare, therefore, has no descendants. Read more about Shakespeare’s family.
Shakespeare left Stratford upon Avon – likely in the late 1580s – and went to London. The first record of William Shakespeare in London is of him living in Bishopsgate in 1596 (see our post on where Shakespeare lived in London). The address is unknown, though is thought to be in the vicinity of Leadenhall Street and St Mary Avenue.
Few people realise that apart from writing his numerousplays and sonnets, Shakespeare was also an actor who performed many of his own plays as well as those of other playwrights. There is evidence that he played the ghost in Hamlet and Adam in As You Like It.
It’s likely that Shakespeare wore a gold hoop earring in his left ear – a creative, bohemian look in the Elizabethan & Jacobean eras. This style is evidenced in the Chandos portrait, one of the most famous depictions of Shakespeare.
During his lifetime Shakespeare became a very wealthy man with a large property portfolio. He was a brilliant businessman – forming a joint-stock company with his actors meaning he took a share in the company’s profits, as well as earning a fee for each play he wrote.
Shakespeare lived a double life. By the seventeenth century, he had become a famous playwright in London but in his hometown of Stratford upon Avon, where his wife and children were, and which he visited frequently, he was a well-known and highly respected businessman and property owner.
Learn 56 fun facts about Shakespeare's life, works, and era, from his birth date and family to his wealth and coat of arms. Discover how Shakespeare was an actor, a businessman, and a favourite of the king.
William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare ( c. 23 [a] April 1564 – 23 April 1616) [b] was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. [4] [5] [6] He is often called England's national poet and the " Bard of Avon " (or simply "the Bard").
May 13, 2024 · William Shakespeare (baptized April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England—died April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon) was a poet, dramatist, and actor often called the English national poet. He is considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time.
Apr 2, 2024 · Learn about the life and works of William Shakespeare, the greatest dramatist of all time. Find out his birth and death dates, family, education, lost years, sonnets, and more.
Oct 3, 2011 · Learn about the life, works and legacy of the greatest English-speaking writer in history and England's national poet. Explore his childhood, family, career, death and the mysteries surrounding his identity and authorship.
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Learn about the biography, family, and career of William Shakespeare, the most famous playwright of the English Renaissance. Explore primary sources, timeline, and frequently asked questions about his life and works.
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