Shakespeare Biography

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE:

A BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

  William Shakespeare, surely the world's most performed and admired playwright, was born in April, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, about 100 miles northwest of London.  

According to the records of Stratford's Holy Trinity Church, he was baptized on April 26.  Since it was customary to baptize infants within days of birth, and since Shakespeare died 52 years later on April 23, and -- most significantly  --  since April 23 is St. George's day, the patron saint of England, it has become traditional to assign the birth day of England's most famous poet to April 23.

But as is the case with most sixteenth century births, the actual day is not recorded, so we cannot be absolutely sure.  

         Shakespeare's parents were John and Mary Shakespeare, who lived in Henley Street, Stratford.

John, the son of Richard Shakespeare, was a whittawer (a maker, worker and seller of leather goods such as purses, belts and gloves) and a dealer in agricultural produce. He was a solid, middle class citizen at the time of William's birth, and a man on the rise. 

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He served in Stratford government successively as a member of the Council (1557), constable (1558), chamberlain (1561), alderman (1565) and finally high bailiff (1568), the equivalent of town mayor. 

 At around about 1577 John Shakespeare's fortunes began to decline for unknown reasons.  There are records of debts.  In 1586 he was replaced as alderman for desisting responsibilities, and in 1592 was reprimanded for not attending church for fear of his debts being processed.

Mary, the daughter of Robert Arden, had in all eight children with John Shakespeare. William was the third child and the first son.

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