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Shakespeare was born on approx. April 23, 1564 in Stratford upon Avon, England.
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Shakespeare spent his early years in Stratford upon Avon where attended Stratford Grammar School from about the age of 7 until approx. the age of 14, from about 1571-1578.
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Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway on 11-28-1572. She was 26, and he was 18.
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May 26: The baptism of Susanna Shakespeare the first child of William and Anne born six months after their wedding. She would have been born approx. 3 days before the baptism ( May 23, 1583.
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Twins, Hamnet and Judith were born approx. late January.
The baptism of Hamnet and Judith Shakespeare was on February 2, 1585. Shakespeare now has 3 children, though his son later died.
(not an actual photo of Shakespeare's children) -
There is not any information available about Shakespeare for the seven year period following the birth of his twins ( 1585 - 1592). Thi period is referred to as The lost years.
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From 1585 (after the birth of the twins) to 1592, not much is known about Shakespeare. This is referred to as The Lost Years.
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By 1592, there is evidence William Shakespeare had moved to London to enter work in the theatres. He earned a living as an actor and a playwright in London and possibly had several plays produced beginning around 1592.
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The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a theatre troupe including distinguished actor Richard Burbage and comic Will Kemp performs with Shakespeare in their group. After the crowning of King James I, in 1603, the company changed its name to the King's Men.
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1595 was a busy year for Shakespeare as he is thought to have composed Richard II performed that very same year, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, thought to be composed for a wedding and the greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet.
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The Major shareholders of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men lease land from Nicholas Brend, The Globe theatre opening later that same year. Julius Caesar is performed at the Globe Theatre for the first known time on September the 21st according to German tourist Thomas Platter’s diary.
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1600-1601. Shakespeare is thought to have composed arguably his greatest play, Hamlet at this time.
1601. The narrative poem, The Phoenix and the Turtle is thought to have been written.
1601-1602. Twelfth Night or What You Will, All Well That Ends Well and Troilus and Cressida are probably composed.
1603. A Midsummer’s Night is performed at Hampton Court before Queen Elizabeth.1610-1611. The Winter’s Tale is written. 1611. The Tempest was written. -
The Globe Theatre burns to the ground. The Two Noble Kinsmen is penned. A 1634 entry within the Stationer’s Registry confirms that both William Shakespeare and John Fletcher composed this play.
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The Globe Theatre reopens.
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- William dies on April 23rd, his burial being recorded in the Stratford Holy Church Register two days He writes his own epitaph, which is pictured.
