John Shakespeare, the father of William Shakespeare, was the son of a tenant farmer who went to Stratford-upon-Avon in the year 1551. He got engaged in various trades like selling leather goods, wool, malt and corn. Towards, 1556, he was appointed the Borough’s official `ale taster’ and was responsible in the inspection of bread and malt liquors and the following year married Mary Arden, the daughter of an aristocratic farmer who also happened to be his father’s former boss. He later became a moneylender holding a series of municipal postings, serving as mayor of Stratford for some time. In 1570s he ran into legal problems and fell into debts for reasons unknown. The birth records of William Shakespeare is not available but it is believed that he was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26th, 1564 and it is presumed that he was born on or near 23rd April 1564 and scholars have acknowledged this date as his birthday. He had two older sisters and three younger brothers and was the third child in his family. Regarding his education it is presumed that he probably attended the King’s New School at Stratford where he learned classics, reading and writing. At the age of eighteen, William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, on November 28, 1583, the daughter of a farmer who was eight years his senior and also pregnant. Six months later, his first daughter, Susanna was born on May 26, 1583. Two years later, twin girls were born on February 2, 1585 and one of twins died at the age of eleven with unknown cause of her death. By 1592, it is said that William Shakespeare earned his living working as an actor and a playwright in London and produced many plays. By early 1590s, William Shakespeare turned out to be a managing partner in Lord Chamberlain’s Men; an acting company based in London and later named, King’s Men, after the crowning of King James in 1602. King’s Men being very popular, it is reported that William Shakespeare got his work published and sold as popular literature. During the 16th century the theatre culture was not a favorite by high ranked people though some were good patrons and made their own contributions to performing art. Shakespeare was fortunate to attract the attention of the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley and dedicated his first and second poems published: Venus and Adonis in 1593 and The Rape of Lucrece in 1594. Fifteen out of thirty seven plays which were written by him were published. He purchased his second largest house in Stratford named New House which was a run of four day ride by horse from Stratford to London. It is presumed that William Shakespeare spend majority of his time in the city, acting and writing, returning home only once a year during the Lenten season of forty days when the theatres remained closed. William Shakespeare along with his business partner then built his own theater on the south bank of the Thames River by 1599 and called it the Globe.
