William Shakespeare Timeline

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William Shakespeare Timeline

The life and times of the Stratford Bard
His marriage to Anne Hathaway and his children
His move from Stratford to London and his life as an actor
His involvement with the Elizabethan theatre
The opening of the Globe Theatre
The death of William Shakespeare

Why was William Shakespeare famous?
William Shakespeare was famous as the English Bard who wrote Sonnets and 37 plays including Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsomer Nights Dream and Othello many of which were staged at the Globe Theatre in London.

William Shakespeare Timeline

Interesting Information via the William Shakespeare Timeline - Life, History and Chronology at a glance, for children and kids
Chronology of Life, Key Names, Key Dates, Key People and Key People in the William Shakespeare Timeline

Short Biography of William Shakespeare
Date of Birth: Born on 23 April 1564
Place of Birth : Stratford upon Avon
Parents: Father: John Shakespeare, Merchant and Bailiff and Justice of the Peace
Mother: Mary Arden
For additional information about the life of the Great Bard go to William Shakepeare Biography

1564

April 23: William Shakespeare was born. He spent his early years in Stratford upon Avon where attended Stratford Grammar School until he was 14 years old

1582

November 28: 'William Shagspeare' as it was spelt on the marriage bond wed 'Anne Hathwey' - Anne Hathaway of Shottery, Stratford

1583

May 26: The baptism of Susanna Shakespeare the first child of William and Anne born six months after their wedding

1585

Twins, Hamnet and Judith were born

February 2, The baptism of Hamnet and Judith Shakespeare

1592

Will leaves his home in Stratford upon Avon and starts to work in the emerging theatres

September 3: Death of Robert Greene author of Groatsworth of Wit in which he complains about Shakespeare as an "upstart crow"

December: Robert Greene's editor Henry Chettle made a public apology to Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare for the Groatsworth of Wit

1593

London Theatres close due to the Bubonic Plague (The Black Death)

Begins writing the Sonnets which were probably completed in 1597

April 18: Registration of his poem Venus and Adonis which was published by Richard Field (1561 - 1624)

1595

Achieves prosperity and recognition as the leading London Playwright at the 'Theatre' which is owned by Burbage

March 15: First document mentioning Shakespeare connected with the theatre

1596

The company of actors moved to the Swan Theatre on Bankside when London's authorities ban the public presentation of plays within the city limits of London

August 11: His son, Hamnet dies, possibly from the bubonic plague, at the age of eleven

October 20: John Shakespeare, father of Shakespeare is Granted a Coat of Arms

1598

Shakespeare and other members of the company finance the building of the Globe Theatre

1599

The Globe Theatre is built on Bankside

1600

First production of Julius Caesar at the Globe theatre

October 8: Registration of his famous play 'A Midsummer's Nights Dream'

1601

His acting troupe, the Chamberlain's Men, commissioned to stage Richard II at the Globe Theatre

1603

March 24: Queen Elizabeth I dies and James the VI of Scotland becomes the new monarch in England as King James I

May 19, The King's Men acting troupe forms

February: Registration of Troilus and Cressida

1604

First performance of Othello

1608

Mentioned as one of "the mens' players" (The King's Men)

The King's Men buy the Blackfriars Theatre of which Shakespeare is part owner

1613

June 29: Fire destroys the Globe Theatre during a performance of Henry VIII when cannon fire sets fire to the thatched roof

1614

The second Globe Theatre was built

1616

April 23: The death of William Shakespeare

April 25: Burial takes place in the chancel of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford

1623

'The First Folio' of his plays is published