By Amy Engle

The Life of the Bard

Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, EnglandBaptized April 26, 1564, which means he was

probably born April 23Started his education at about 6 or 7 at the

Stratford grammar schoolStudied Latin composition as well as Latin

authors in schoolWas removed from school at the age of

thirteen due to financial problems

Early Life

Son of John Shakespeare, a glove maker, and Mary Arden, daughter of a wealthy farm-owner—both are believed to be illiterate

Had two older sisters named Joan and Margaret, who died in infancy; three younger brothers: Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund; and another sister named Joan

Married Anne Hathaway on November 27, 1582

Had three children: Susanna and twins named Judith and Hamnet

Family

It is unknown how Shakespeare began his career in the theatre

Became an established actor by the end of 1592

Received patronage from the Earl of Southampton in 1593—by now he had become known for his plays—but it only lasted a few months

Granted a coat of arms on October 20, 1596

Career

Died at the age of 52 on April 23, 1616—cause in unknown, but some possibilities include: plague, tuberculosis, scurvy, syphilis, small pox, malaria, dysentery, or typhus

Since most people at that time died at the age of thirty-five, Shakespeare is considered as having a long and healthy life

Death

1590-1592: Shakespeare Writes Parts 1, 2, and 3 of Henry VI.

March 3, 1592: First Production of 1 Henry VIApril 18, 1593: Registration of Venus and Adonis1594: First Quarto Edition of Titus AndronicusMay 9, 1594: Registration of The Rape of LucreceDecember 28, 1594: Confirmed Performance

of The Comedy of Errors1597: First Quarto Editions of Richard III, Richard

II, and Romeo and Juliet

Works Timeline

1598: First Quarto Editions of Love's Labour's Lost and 1 Henry IV

1600: First Production of Julius CaesarAugust 4, 1600: Registration of As You Like

ItFebruary 7, 1601: First Recorded Production

of Richard II1603: First Printing of HamletFebruary, 1603: Registration of Troilus and

Cressida1604: First Performance of Othello

Works Timeline (continued)

December 26, 1604: First Performance of Measure for Measure

December 26, 1606: First Recorded Performance of King Lear

May 20, 1608: Registration of Pericles1609: Publication of Shakespeare's

Sonnets1611: First Recorded Performances

of The Winter's Tale, Macbeth and Cymbeline

November 1, 1611: First Recorded production of The Tempest

Works Timeline (continued)

Mabillard, Amanda. William Shakespeare of Stratford. 20 Aug. 2000. April 12, 2012. <http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/shakespeareancestry.html >.

Works Cited