The Life of Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare was born approximately on April 24, 1564.  William was the third child of his parents, John and Mary Shakespeare.  The other children were daughters.  William was also had two brothers after he was born.  One of them was Gilbert, who died in 1612.  Also, there was Richard, who died in 1613.  Edmund, who was the sixth child died in 1607.  Joan, who was his oldest living sister, outlived William, her playwright brother.  Out of 8 children, only 6 children survived to adulthood.  William's father was a local business man who dabbled in tanning and a few other things.  He was also a town official.  William's mother married William's father in 1557.  William attended the King's New Grammar School which taught him basic reading and writing.  On November 28th, William Shakespeare ,a 18 year-old, married a 26 year old and pregnant woman called Anne Hathway.  Almost 7 months later, they had their first daughter, Susanna.  William and Anne also had twin, Hamnet and Judith.  Seven years later, Shakespeare was known as a poet, an actor, and a playwright.  A few years later, Shakespeare joined up with one of the most successful acting troupes in London called "The Lord Chamberlain Men."  In 1599, the acting troupe was wealthy enough to build their own theater.  It was located across the Thames and in the South of London which they called "The Globe."  When King James I came to the throne, the "The Lord Chamberlain Men" was called "King's Men."  

    Shakespeare entertained the king for another 10 years until June 19, 1613.  A cannon fired from the roof for a performance of  Henry VIII.  The fire from the cannon caught the thatched roof on fire and burned the theater to the ground.  The audience ignored the smoke until the burning thatched roof made the curtains and the walls catch on fire.  The most surprising part was that nobody  got hurt in the fire.  The company rebuilt the theater very well.  William Shakespeare retired from the stage and stayed in the Great House of New Place in Statford where he stayed writing until he died in 1616 on the day of his 52nd birthday.