William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in Stratford-upon-Avon. His actual birthdate is unknown, but it is recognized on April 23rd; St. George's Day. He was the third sibling of eight children.
He was baptized at the Holy Trinity Church, of the Church of England. During these times, only the child's baptism date is recorded, instead of the birthdate. But usually the baptisms were a few days after the child was born, so that is why his birthday is believed to have been on April 23rd
Shakespeare most likely attended school during these years at the Stratford Grammar School, until the age of 14.
When William Shakespeare was 18, he married 26 year-old Anne Hathaway. (who was already three-months pregnant with their first child)
Susanna Shakespeare, William's and Anne's eldest daughter, was born and baptised
Two years after Susanna was born, Anne Hathaway gave birth to twins Judith and Hamnet Shakespeare. They were named after close friends of Shakespeare, Judith and Hamnet Sadler. The twins were baptized on February 2nd.
Nothing is known about Shakespeare during these years, and they are thus referred to as the "Lost Years"
There was a literary criticism of Shakespeare written by Robert Greene at the end of 1592, which demonstrates that Shakespeare had a certain prominence in the London Theatre at this time.
He wrote the long narrative poem "Venus and Adonis", and dedicated it to 19-year-old Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton and Baron of Titchfield.
During these years it is known that Shakespeare wrote the following plays; Ge'tleme' of Verona, Errors, Love labors lost, Love labours wonne, Midsummer Night Dreame, Merchant of Venice, Richard the II. Richard the III. Henry the IV. King John, Titus Andronicus, Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado about Nothing. Shakespeare was part of the Chamberlain's Men, perhaps the largest acting company in London. They were invited often to perform at court, and Shakespeare was listed as a comedian in "Every Man In His Humour"
The following year he wrote another narrative poem, "The Rape of Lucrece", which he again dedicated to Henry Wriothesley.
Hamnet, one of the twins, and Shakespeare's only son, died of unknown causes at 11-years-old.
In this month he purchased New Place, the second largest house in Stratford. This is where he lived until his death in 1616.
"Sometime between 1599 and 1601 Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, and from Hamlet on, until about 1608 when he began writing the great Romances Cymbeline, Winter's Tale and The Tempest, Shakespeare's vision turned to tragedy. The comedies he produced over the next couple of years are distinctly un-funny, and have been called "problem plays": All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure (both probably written in the period 1603-1604)." "Troilus and Cressida (probably written in 1602), Othello (probably 1604), King Lear (probably 1605) Macbeth (probably 1605), Antony and Cleopatra (probably 1607), Coriolanus and Timon of Athens (probably 1606-8). (These last two plays, along with Troilus and Cressida, surely Shakespeare's least liked and performed plays)."
He is listed as a tragedian in "Sejanus" (1603), by Ben Jonson.
On April 23rd, 1616, William Shakespeare died of an unknown illness. Coincidentally he died on the day that is assigned to the day of his birth.
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