1. Overview on Shakespeare
April 23, 1564
Traditional birth date—born at Stratford on Avon
Father: John Shakespeare
Mother: Mary Arden
1582
Marries Anne Hathaway
1583
Daughter Susannah born
1585
Twins Judith and Hamnet born
“Lost Years” in Shakespeare’s life, for which there are no records
1592
First recorded reference to Shakespeare in London as an actor with Lord Chamberlain’s Men Acting Company
Bubonic Plague hits London; theatres close down, and Shakespeare returns to Stratford to write poetry
1601
Shakespeare’s father dies; William becomes head of the family and inherits the family coat of arms

2. Overview on Shakespeare
1603
Queen Elizabeth dies; James I of Scotland, her cousin, is crowned. This begins the Jacobean Age.
1608
Shakespeare’s mother dies.
1609
Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets are published, dedicated to the “dark lady.”
1611
Shakespeare returns to Stratford for good, after 22 years of living in London and pursuing his acting career.
March 1616
Shakespeare’s will is written

3. Overview on Shakespeare
April 23, 1616
Shakespeare dies and is buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. Shakespeare’s stone bears the following inscription, which he had written for his tomb:
Good friends, for Jesus’ sake, forebear
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.
1623
FIRST FOLIO printed—a book of all his plays printed together—compiled by his acting friends John Heminge and Henry Condell.
The eulogy in the FIRST FOLIO was written by Ben Johnson: “He was not of an age, but for all time.”