William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. He likely received some education locally before marrying Anne Hathaway at age 18. They had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare left Stratford in the 1580s to pursue work in London as an actor and playwright. He found success writing for The Lord Chamberlain's Men and later The King's Men theatre companies. Some of his most famous plays were written during this time. In 1610, Shakespeare retired to Stratford where he spent his final years before passing away in 1616 at the age of 52.

1. A PICTORIAL BIOGRAPHY
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
A Pictorial Biography of William
Shakespeare
lifeMany of the pictures on this page are
taken from William Shakespeare by Andrew
Gurr. The book includes a large number of
reconstructions of scenes from
Shakespeare's life. The pictures were
directed by Julian Napier and photographed
by Dominic Clemence. The photos on this
page of present day Stratford are my own.
This first picture shows young William
Shakespeare with his father, John
Shakespeare, and his mother, Mary Arden.
John Shakespeare was a
glove-maker, and this picture
shows Willam and his brother
Gilbert helping their father in
their father's workshop.

2. Young William would have
attended the King Edward's
Grammer School in Stratford.
After leaving school at
around 14 it is likely that
Shakespeare went to learn his
father's trade in his father's
shop.
When he was 18,
Shakespeare married Anne
Hathway, who was a few
years older than himself.
Anne's original home was a
farmhouse, now known as
Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
Anne had been the eldest of 3
sisters, and their father had
died a year before Anne and
Willam were married.
One of William's earliest
poetic works is a sonnet
(number 145) written to
Anne.

3. Anne and William had their
first child, Susanna, in 1583.
Susanna was followed by
twins, Judith amd Hamnet, 2
years later.
There was general economic
hardship in Warwickshire at
that time, which seriously
affected Shakespeare's
father's business and the
Shakespeare family. William
needed to find other
employment. His early sonnet
to Anne shows his interest in
writing, but there was no
such work locally.
Fate brought William into
contact with a travelling
theatre company, and he
joined them, as an actor.
Travelling companies of
actors would perform at
market fairs, or at great
country houses. Each
company was under the
patronage of some wealthy
nobleman. The Earl of
Leicester (who lived at
nearby Kenilworth Castle)
was the patron of one local
company.
The picture below shows the
Guild Hall at nearby

4. Coventry which was also
used for such performances.
The travelling company of
actors took Shakespeare to
London.
Little is known of
Shakespeare's early years in
London. He must have
pursued his writing after his
day's work, in the taverns
where he was lodging.
By 1592, when he was aged
27, Shakespeare had
established himself as both an
actor and writer.

5. This picture shows the Earl of
Southampton, a very rich young
gentleman, to whom Shakespeare
dedicted two of his earliest works,
and who was an early patron of
Shakespeare.
This picture shoes the Burbage
family. James Burbage (left) had
been an actor in the company of
Lord Leicester's Men (Kenilworth
Castle). He established his own
company in London under the
patronage of the Lord Chamberlain,
which became known as the
Chamberlain's Men. This company
included Shakespeare as one of its
managers and players. James
Burbage's son, Richard Burbage
(standing), was the foremost actor
of the day, and played all of the
great roles created by Shakespeare
for the company (Hamlet, Othello,
etc)

6. Beside his great philosophical
explorations, Shakespeare's time in
London was one of intense
personal emotions, reflected in the
content of his Sonnets. Some of
these are attributed to an
unidentified figure known as the
Dark Lady.
Until 1596 The Chamberlain's Men
had used a theatre in Shoreditch,
which needed replacement. In 1598
the conpany decided to finance the
construction of a new theatre, The
Globe. The money was raised by
contributions from members of the
company. Shakespeare who made
substantial profits from his share in
the scheme.
The Globe theatre has recently
been rebuilt, very near to the site of
the original, and closely resembling
the original.
This picture shows a performance
of The Merry Wives of Windsor
before Queen Elizabeth.
In 1603 Queen Elizabeth died,
without an heir. She had appointed
James VI of Scotland to be ruler of
England on her death. The
Chamberlain's Men soon secured
the favour of the new King, and
became known as The King's Men.
Shakespeare's play Macbeth was
composed soon afterwards in
gratitude to the new King.

7. Thoroughout his time in London Shakespeare
lived in lodgings, and sent money back to
maintain his property and investments in Stratford.
He always maintained the intention of returning to
Stratford someday. This picture shows
Shakespeare travelling back to Stratford, by horse,
and staying overnight in Oxford. He may have
returned to Stratford each year during the period
of Lent when the playhouses in London would
have been closed.
In 1610 Shakespeare returned to Stratford
permanently to manage his investments and
properties.
Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, was
probably written in comfort in Stratford.
In 1613, the Globe was burnt down in the Great
Fire of London. The company rebuilt the theatre,
but Shakespeare was no longer part of the
company.

8. Shakespeare's daughter Susanna
married a Stratford doctor John
Hall. This picture shows
Shakespeare with Susanna's
daughter Elizabeth, at New Place in
Stratford.
This family portrait shows (back
row) Shakespeare, Dr John Hall,
Judith (Shakepeare's other
daughter), (centre row) Anne
Hathaway, Susanna, Thomas
Quiney (a friend of Judiths), (front)
Elizabeth (Susanna's daughter).

9. Shakespeare died in Stratford on 23
April 1616, and now lies in Holy
Trinity Church Stratford.