Week 2 Shakespeare's Life And Biography

Shakespeare's birthplace 

Due to many historical records being lost or never existing in the first place, there are many details that are not present within historical findings of Shakespeare's life. From  what we know from expert historians William Shakespeare was born and baptised in Stratford- Upon- Avon in on the 26th of April, 1564. Although historians cannot pinpoint his actual birth date due to inadequate evidence therefore it may of occurred a few days earlier. The young Shakespeare was the youngest surviving child out of his collection of siblings. His parents Mary and John Shakespeare first two children died in their infant years. Shakespeare had three younger brothers named Gilbert, Edmund and Richard as well as two younger sisters, Anne and Joan who sadly passed away at just seven years old.

John Shakespeare's occupation was a leather worker who specialised in working with soft leather designed to construct gloves. John was a prosperous businessman and married Shakespeare's mother Mary Arden. He rose through the ranks and eventually became the town Baliff when William turned 5 years old. Shakespeare's mother was the daughter of a local farmer. His parents were wealthy and it is thought Shakespeare led a healthy, safe childhood.

Stratford Grammar school

Shakespeare was thought to attend Stratford Grammar School. Like all institutions in the Elizabethan period the curriculum was dominated by the study of Latin classics. The boys were taught to read and write in Latin they also had to memorise and perform in classic Latin plays. It is thought Shakespeare left school at around the age of 15.

Several years later after he left school in 1582 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Anne was a local farmers daughter, she grew up in a village called Shottery outside Stratford. In 1985 the two had twins named Judith and Hamnet. His wife and children remained in Stratford whilst Shakespeare worked in London. Shakespeare's son Hamnet died when he was 11. His older daughter Susanna who was born from a previous lover, married a well known Stratford doctor named John Hall. Their daughter, Shakespeare's granddaughter was born in 1806 named Elizabeth. A few months before his death in 1616, Williams daughter Judith was married to a Stratford vintner named Thomas Quiney. The family eventually died out leaving no descendants of the renowned playwright.

Plaque dedicated to 'The Lord Chamberlain's men'

During his time in London Shakespeare was a very well known actor, playwright and established his own theatre company. One of his earliest plays was the historical retelling of Henry IV in 1592.  For a little more that two decades Shakespeare had many roles in the London theatre as both an actor and director, also a business partner in the renowned acting company "the lord Chamberlain's men". Through the years William gradually became more famous in the London theatre scene.
During his time he wrote\co wrote 40 plays and also published a book of 154 sonnets, as he was also a keen poet. From 1599 he was the co owner of the Globe theatre. He made a large amount of income from his work and purchased the second largest abode in Stratford 1597 where he settled down with his family.

One his last plays of his tremendous career was "The Two Noble Kinsmen" which he wrote in the year of 1613. He died three years later on April the 23rd which is believed to be his birthday. The exact reason for is death is unknown however experts believe it could of been as a result of a various infection due to the demise of his brother in law a week earlier.