The Oxford Companion to English Literature | Shakespeare, William
Shakespeare, William
(
1564
–
1616
), dramatist, man of the theatre, and poet, baptized in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, on
26
Apr.
1564
. His birth is traditionally celebrated on
23
Apr
., which is also known to have been the date of his death. He was the eldest son of John Shakespeare, a glover and dealer in other commodities who played a prominent part in local affairs, becoming bailiff and justice of the peace in
1568
, but whose fortunes later declined. John had married
c.
1557
Mary
Arden
, who came from a family of higher social standing. Of their eight children, four sons and one daughter survived childhood.
The standard and kind of education indicated by
William's
writings are such as he might have received at the local grammar school, whose records for the period are lost. On
28
Nov.
1582
a bond was issued permitting him to marry
Anne
Hathaway
of Shottery, a village close to...
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