Quick Facts
- Full Name: William Shakespeare
- Birthplace: Stratford, England
- Date of Birth: April 23, 1564
- Died: April 23, 1616
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
- PLACE OF DEATH: Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
- EDUCATION: King's New School
- Literary Genres : Poetry / Drama / Theater
- AKA: Shakspere
Biography
On April 26, 1564, in the sixth year of the reign of Elizabeth I of England, William Shakespeare was baptized in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town in Warwick County not exceeding two thousand inhabitants, all proud of their church, its school and its bridge over the river. One of these was John Shakespeare, a wool merchant, butcher, and tenant who became a councillor, treasurer, and mayor. From his union with Mary Arden, a young lady of a distinguished family, five children were born, the third of whom received the name of William. There is no record of the day of his birth, but traditionally his birthday is celebrated on April 23, perhaps to find some design or fatality in the date, since death came to him, fifty-two years later, in that same day.
Shakespeare's father, who was at the height of his prosperity when William was born, soon fell out of favour. When he was thirteen years old, his father's fortune disappeared and the young man had to be placed as a butcher shop clerk, leaving the classrooms. He is also described wandering indolently along the banks of the Avon, smearing verses, indulging in the study of botanical trifles, or vying with the hardest drinkers, and napping afterwards at the foot of the Arden groves.
On November 28, 1582, when he was 18 years old, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, 26, from Temple Grafton, a town near Stratford. Apparently, there was a rush to arrange the wedding, perhaps because Anne was three months pregnant. After his marriage, there are hardly any marks of William Shakespeare in historical records, until he makes his appearance on the London theatre scene. On May 26, 1583, the couple's firstborn daughter, Susanna, was baptized in Stratford. A son, Hamnet, and another daughter, Judith, born twins, were also baptized soon after, on February 2, 1585; Hamnet died at eleven years old, and only his daughters reached adulthood. Judging by the playwright's will, who is somewhat dismissive of Anne Hathaway, the marriage was not well matched.
He continued writing verses, hypnotized attended the representations that the companies of comedians of the league offered in the Hall of Guilds of Stratford and did not miss the masquerades, fireworks, horseback riding and theatrical performances with which the visits of the queen to the castle were celebrated Kenilworth, home of one of his favourites.
By 1592 Shakespeare was already in London working as a playwright and was well known enough. He would soon become an actor, writer, and eventually co-owner of the theatre company known as Lord Chamberlain's Men, which received his name, as well as others of the time, from his aristocratic patron, the Lord Chamberlain (Lord Chamberlain). The company would reach such popularity that, after the death of Elizabeth I and the rise to the throne of James I Stuart, the new monarch would take it under her protection, becoming the King's Men (Men of the King).
Parallel to its theatrical success, it improved its economy. He became one of the shareholders of his theatre, was able to help his father financially, and even in 1596 bought him a noble title, whose coat of arms appears on the monument to the poet built shortly after his death in Stratford Church.
Shakespeare retired to his hometown in 1611, by the end of the century he was already quite wealthy and bought or had a house built in Stratford, which he called New-Place.
William Shakespeare passed away on April 23, 1616, at the age of fifty-two. Shakespeare's remains were buried in the chancel of Stratford's Holy Trinity Church.
April 23 is the date chosen by the Unesco General Conference to pay a worldwide tribute to the book and its authors.
