William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratfordupon-Avon. His father was a prominent and prosperous alderman in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon.At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died of unknown causes at the age of 11. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613 at age 49, where he died three years later. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other

playwrights. Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to its present heights until the 19th century. The Romantics, in particular, acclaimed Shakespeare's genius, and the Victorians worshipped Shakespeare with a reverence that George Bernard Shaw called "bardolatry".His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. In the 20th century, his work was repeatedly adopted and rediscovered by new movements in scholarship and performance. His plays remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.

1556 - Anne Hathaway is born. 1564 - William Shakespeare is born in April (probably the 23rd) in Stratford-On-Avon (94 miles from London.) 1582 - Marries Anne Hathaway on November 27. 1583 - Susanna Shakespeare is born. 1585 - The twins Judith and Hamnet Shakespeare are born. 1592 - After leaving Stratford for London, William was recognized as a successful actor, as well as a leading poet. He was a member of 'The Chamberlain's Men'. 1596 - Hamnet dies at the age of eleven. Shakespeare becomes a "gentleman" when the College of Heralds grants his father a coat of arms. 1597- He bought a large house called "The Great House of New Place". 1599 - The 'Globe Theater' is built from the pieces of 'The Theater' in July. 1603 - 'The Lord Chamberlain's Men' became 'The King's Men' on May 19. 1613 - The 'Globe Theatre' burns during a performance of Henry VII when a canon fired on the roof sets fire to the straw thatch. The theatre is rebuilt, but Shakespeare retires. 1616 - April 23, in Stratford, on his 52nd birthday he died.