William Shakespeare – The most famous poet

Birth Date:

William Shakespeare, surely the world's most performed and admired playwright, was born in April, 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, about 100 miles north-west of London. According to the records of Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church, he was baptised on April 26th. Since it was customary to baptise infants within days of birth, and since Shakespeare died 52 years later on April 23rd, and - most significantly - since April 23rd is St. George's day, the patron saint of England, it has become traditional to assign the birthday of England's most famous poet to April 23rd. As with most sixteenth century births, the actual day is not recorded. And as with most remarkable men, the power of myth and symmetry has proven irresistible. So April 23rd it has become.

William’s parents:

Father:

His father, John Shakespeare, was a respected farmer and dealer. In 1565 he was selected to be town council.

Mother:

His mother, Mary Arden of Wilmcote, descended from a old but insignificant nobility. She was heiress of a small part of land.

William’s youth:

William attended a school of high quality in Stradford-on Avon. He got a good instruction which concentrated on the study for the Latin language, poetical work and history at this time. William didn’t attend a university.

His own family:

In 1582 – at that time William was 18 years old – he married Anne Hathaway who was a few years older than William. On May 26th 1582 his daughter Susanna was baptised. And on February 2nd 1585 his twins Hamnet and Judith were baptised. Hamnet, William’s once son died when he was 11 years old. The cause of death is unknown.

The early years:

William had problems with the nobility, there were rumours about thefts or an activity as a teacher at a local school and different auxiliary activities in his first time in London. Anyhow there is no reliable documentation of Shakespeare’s doings in the time from 1585 till 1592.

Anyhow he has managed that other dramatists were eaten up with envy of William. And Graham Greene who was a dramatist too, said that William Shakespeare is an upstart crow who beautified with their feathers.

Shakespeare had a way to ensure important friendships like the later friendship with Henry Wriothesley the third earl of Southampton. William dedicated him his first published poems, Venus and Adonis and The rape of Lucrecia.

From 1594 he was working an actor from the “ Lord Chamberlain’s Men”. These troupe had with Richard Burbage the best actor of his time, later the best theatre - the Globe - and last but not least the best playwright – William Shakespeare.

The advancement:

An evidence of the growing prosperity of William was in 1596 the allowance of a family arm. The arm is now on the Shakespeare statue in the church of Stradford. Moreover he bought a big house out of Stradford. He lived there from 1611 to his death in 1616.

Since 1599 the troupe “Lord Chamberlain’s Men“ played almost only in their own famous Globe – theatre, at which Shakespeare also was a financial associate. William was known as a clever buisnessman. From his private life there are only a few details known. Private letters have never leaked out to the public.

Was Shakespeare a junkie? :

Close to the property of Shakespeare in Stradford upon Avon there was found a whistle with rests of marijuana and cocaine. The object found was supposed to be some hundred years old. It became prompt absolutely proof that Shakespeare was a junkie.

Shakespeare’s last will:

Shakespeare’s last will wrote on March 25th, 1616 exists still as an original. In the detailed document he leaved the biggest part of his property to the son of his oldest daughter who was married with Thomas Quiney. But also the second daughter who was married with John Halle who was a respected medical student from Stradford and of course Anne Hathaway were heirs.

William Shakespeare died on April 23rd, 1616.

He is buried in the church of Stradford. His tombstone decorates no name. Only the following lines -maybe his own - were on it:

Good frend, for Jesus sake forbeare

To digg the dust encloased heare.

Blese be the man that spares thes stones,