Shakespeare: Biography
William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Strathford-upon-Avon, England; he was third of eight children from Father John Shakespeare and Mother Mary Arden. Shakespeare began his education at the age of seven were he probably attended the Strathford grammar school. The school provided Shakespeare with his formal education. The students chiefly studied Latin rhetoric, logic, and literature. His knowledge and imagination may have come from his reading of ancient authors and poetry. In November 1582, Shakespeare received a license to marry Anne Hathaway. At the time of their marriage, Shakespeare was 18 years old and Anne was 26. They had three children, the oldest Susanna, and twins- a boy, Hamneth, and a girl, Judith. From the years 1585 and 1592 there is nothing known about Shakespeare's departure from Strathford to London, or about the beginning of his theatrical career. His first recognition in 1952, due to the ill-tempered manner of Robert Green who had written a letter criticizing actors and writers. This first reference suggests that Shakespeare had become both an actor and playwright. From this point forward, there have been subsequent references to state that Shakespeare had acted and written. By 1594 Shakespeare had written at least six plays; the first being "The Comedy of Errors", and published two poems, "Venus and Adonis" and " The Rape of Lucrece". From 1594 to 1608, Shakespeare was fully involved in the London theatre world. In addition to his duties as a shareholder and actor in the Lord Chamberlain's Men, he wrote an average of two plays a year for his company. Shakespeare was one of the few Elizabethan writes who concentrated almost solely on the theatre as a career. By the late 1590's Shakespeare had not only become an established writer, but he had also become prosperous. In 1599, Shakespeare and six other associates became owners of the Globe, a new outdoor theatre. This became the home of Shakespeare's acting company - The King's Men. Before his death on April 23 1616, William Shakespeare had written Thirty-seven plays. He is generally considered the greatest playwright the world has ever known and has always been the world's most popular author.
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