Born in April
1564 in StratfordUpon-Avon.
First child,
Susanna is born
in May 1583.
Marries Anne
Hathaway in
November 1582.
Shakespeare leaves
Stratford-Upon-Avon for
London to start his theater
career in 1585.
1585– Twins, Judith
and Hamnet born to
William and Anne.
Robert Greene writes a
scathing review of
Shakespeare calling him an
“upstart crow” in 1592.
Henry VI, Part One penned
by Shakespeare in 1590. As
with all Shakespeare’s
writings, the year is a best
estimate.
April 1593– Shakespeare
publishes Venus and
Adonis his first long
published poem.
Bubonic plague closes
the London theaters in
1593. Shakespeare uses
this time to write poetry.
Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
were written in 1595.
In 1594, Shakespeare
founded the Lord
Chamberlain’s Men, an
acting troupe.
The Globe Theatre is built
by the Lord Chamberlain’s
Men in 1599.
1597- Shakespeare buys and
moves to New Place after
son’s death.
1611– Shakespeare leaves
London and returns to his
birthplace.
In 1613, the Globe burns
down and a second theater
opened in 1614.
William Shakespeare
dies in 1616.