William Shakespeare Timeline

Interested in a William Shakespeare timeline? Read on below for a text and image version of a Shakespeare timeline.

Because there’s so much that is unknown about Shakespeare’s life we can’t 100% guarantee the accuracy of this William Shakespeare timeline. However, we’ve made a gallant effort and the Shakespeare timeline below gives a good idea of the course of Shakespeare’s life, with a combination of historically documented and dated facts about Shakespeare along with generally accepted dates for specific events.

1564

Born in Stratford-upon-Avon to tanner and glove maker,John Shakespeare and his wife, Mary (Arden). His actual birthday is unknown, but assumed to be April the 23rd. His baptism was recorded in the Parish register of Holy Trinity Church on April 26th.

1571

If Shakespeare went to school this is when he would have started because children in Stratford began their schooling at the age of seven. He would have gone to the local grammar school, the King’s New School.

1582

Shakespeare marries Anne Hathaway on November 27th at Temple Grafton, a village near Stratford.

1583

Susanna, his first child, is born.

1585

Judith and Hamnet, twins, are born, February 2nd. Shakespeare goes to London and starts his theatrical career.

1589-1592

Shakespeare establishes his career and begins to make a name for himself.

Writes: The Comedy of Errors, Henry IV Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, Richard III, The Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus.

1593

Writes and dedicates Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece to Henry Wriothsley, Earl of Southampton – thought to be the beautiful youth of his sonnets.

Begins writing: The sonnets, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

1594

Founding member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, an acting company.

Published: The Rape of Lucrece.

1596-1597

His son Hamnet dies. Shakespeare purchases New Place, a large house in Stratford.

Writes: The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard II, Romeo and Juliet.

1598-1608

Shakespeare’s theatre company, The King’s Men, perform regularly at court.

1607 Susanna Shakespeare marries Dr. John Hall.

1608 The King’s Men begin playing at The Blackfriars theatre.

1608 Shakespeare’s mother dies.

Writes: All’s Well That Ends Well, Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Macbeth, Measure for Measure, Othello, Timon of Athens, Troilus & Cressida, Twelfth Night.

1609-1611

1609 The sonnets are published.

Writes: Cymbeline, Pericles Prince of Tyre, The Tempest, The Winter’s Tale.

1612-1616

Shakespeare retires from the theatre and returns to live in Stratford. Works on new plays with his friend, John Fletcher.

1616 Judith Shakespeare married Thomas Quinney.

Writes: Cardenio, Henry VIII, The Two Noble Kinsmen.

Shakespeare dies on 23rd April 1616 (on his birthday) and is buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford Upon Avon.

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The above William Shakespeare timeline not quite enough info for you? Check out our Shakespeare biography or read our Shakespeare facts for more indepth info about the great man.