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Born in Stratford to John and Mary Shakespeare. His actual birthdate is unknown but universally accepted date is this one.
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By local tradition, children entered grammar school at the age of seven.
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Shakespeare is believed to have left his family to start as a playwright and performer.
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At the age of 18, he marries Anne Hathaway, who is 8 years his senior, at the Temple Grafton.
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Susanna Shakespeare is born after 5 months of Shakespeare and Anne being married
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Judith and Hamnet are born
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publshed 1623
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published 1623
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published 1623
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Part 1 published 1623, Part 2 published 1594, Part 3 published 1595
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Shakespeare begins to be noticed as a force within London theatre; Robert Greene’s Groatworth of Wit famously calls Shakespeare an "upstart crow". He attacks Shakespeare as lacking originality since he borrows ideas from others for his own plays. Academics see this criticism as proof that Shakespeare was in London at this time.
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Published 1593
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Published 1597 for Richard III, 1623 for Taming of the Shrew, and 1594 for Titus Andronicus
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The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a theatre troupe including distinguished actor Richard Burbage and comic Will Kemp performs with Shakespeare in their group.
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Published 1594
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Published 1597
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Published 1598
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Published 1609
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Published 1597
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Published 1600
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The company of actors moved to the Swan Theatre on Bankside when London's authorities ban the public presentation of plays within the city limits of London
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Published 1600
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Published 1598
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Hamnet dies, supposedly by the plague
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Shakespeare buys the New Place, one of Stratford’s most preeminent homes. This fuels speculation today by some academics that William was really a successful businessman and not literature’s celebrated playwright.
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Published 1600
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Published 1602
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Writer Francis Meres publishes a glowing review of Shakespeare's work. Thanks to Meres' review, we know that by this time Shakespeare has become a noted playwright with at least a dozen plays under his belt, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Love's Labors Lost, Richard II and Titus Andronicus.
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Published 1600
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The Major shareholders of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men lease land from Nicholas Brend, The Globe theatre opening later that same year
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Published 1623
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Published 1623
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Published 1600
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Published 1603
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Shakespeare's father dies and his patron Earl Southampton is sentenced to death (later reprieved) for his role in the Essex rebellion. It is believed that his father's death motivates Shakespeare to write Hamlet around this time. Shakespeare's plays over the next few years take a dark, brooding tone.
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Published 1623
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Published 1623
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Published 1622
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A Midsummer’s Night is performed at Hampton Court before Queen Elizabeth who dies later that year. James I originally James VI of Scotland proves to be an enthusiastic patron of the arts granting The Chamberlain’s Men a patent to perform. In return, the Company renames itself The King’s Men to honour James I and they quickly become a favorite with the new king.
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Published 1609
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Published 1623
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Published in 1623
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Published 1608
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Published 1609
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Published 1623
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The return of the plague forces a closure of all playhouses and theatres from the spring of 1608 through to early 1610.
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Published 1623
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Published 1623
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Published 1623
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Published 1623
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Published 1634
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Published unknown
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. The Globe Theatre burns to the ground.
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Published 1623
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The Globe Theater reopens
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Shakespeare is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, the same church where he was baptized. His marker orders a curse on anyone who disturbs his grave.
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John Heminge and Henry Condell, Shakespeare's former colleagues in the King's Men, collect 36 of their late friend's plays and publish them together in a volume now known as the First Folio.
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Published 1606