

His elevated status meant that he was even more likely to have sent his children, including William, to the local grammar school. John Shakespeare worked as a glove-maker, but he also became an important figure in the town of Stratford by fulfilling civic positions. John and Mary lost two daughters as infants, so William became their eldest child. JohnĪrden, and together they had eight children. Records survive relating to William Shakespeare’s family that offer an understanding of the context of Shakespeare's early life and the lives of his family members. Shakespeare’s poems also remain popular to this day. Shakespeare’s plays are perhaps his most enduring legacy, but they are not all he wrote. Shakespeare was a prolific writer during the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theatre (sometimes called the English Renaissance or the Early Modern Period).

Shakespeare born), which is also believed to be the date he died in 1616. His birthday is most commonly celebrated on 23 April (see When was William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Prices, booking, opening times and more to help you get organised Shakespeare's Birthplace is closed in January for essential conservation.
