History of William Shakespeare

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire in 1564. He was baptized on April 26th 1564. It is likely that Shakespeare was educated at the local King Edward VI Grammar School in Stratford.

The next documented part of William's life was his marriage to Anne Hathaway at the age of 18. Anne is the daughter of a local farmer. They married on November 28, 1582. Anne was 8 years older. They had there first child Susanna six months after the wedding. And two years later had twins, Hamnet and Judith, but there son Hamnet died of unknown causes at 11 years old.

Shakespeare had gained recognition as an actor and playwright - contemporary critic, Robert Green, described him in the 1592 pamphlet as an, 'upstart crow'. In 1593 and 1594 his first poems 'Venus and Adonis', and 'The Rape of Lucrece', were published. It is also thought that William wrote most of his sonnets at this time. There are records of his plays beginning to appear in 1594, and he produced roughly two a year until around 1611. His earlier plays were mainly histories and comedies such as 'Henry VI', 'Titus Andronicus', A Midsummer's Night Dream', 'The Merchant of Venice', and 'Richard II'. The tragedy, 'Romeo and Juliet', was also published in this period.

Known throughout the world, the works of William Shakespeare have been performed in countless hamlets, villages, cities and metropolises for more than 400 years. But the personal history of William Shakespeare is somewhat mystery.

Shakespeare spent his last five years of his life in a new place in Stratford. He died on 23rd April 1616 at the age of 52 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623 and is known as the 'First Folio'.

Shakespeare is believed to have died on the same day as his birthday, April 23rd 1564.