The Life Of Shakespeare

The Life of Shakespeare

Shakespeare was a great influence to literature. His life, unfortunately, is not as well-known as his works. Much of his life is based on available documentation.

Shakespeare's birth date is not known, but because records were found of his baptism on Wednesday, April 26, 1564, many believe he was born that year. He was the third of seven children to John and Mary Shakespeare.

William lived with his dad. We can presume he lived on Henley Street in Stratford since records claim his father lived there.

A bond certificates dating November 28, 1582 shows the marriage of 18 year old William and twenty-six pregnant Anne Hathaway.

Seven months after his marriage, his first daughter, Susanna was born sometime in May, 1583. Baptism records show twins Hamnet and Judith born around February, 1592. Hamnet, William's only son died in 1596 when he was eleven years old.

In his teens, William bought the New Place. Since his father had financial hardship in 1576, William either bought the house with his own money or his father must have left money in William's name. William might have bought it using money he made from his plays. William wrote 15 of his 37 plays in his teens.

His death came on April 23, 1616. He was buried at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. He left most of his estate to his oldest daughter, Savannah. In his will were names of actors which I proof that William worked in theater.

On his tombstone is written that he should be left in peace and a curse to anyone who moves his bones. It reads as this:

Good friend, for JesusÒ' sake forbeare

To digg the dust enclosed here!

Blest be ye man that spares thes stones

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