Shakespeare's Life: A Timeline

William Shakespeare's life began in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. Although his career as an actor, theatre manager and playwright took him to London, Shakespeare remained a country boy at heart. He returned there often to visit his family, use his library and to write in familiar surroundings. The surviving records of Shakespeare and his family can help us understand the context and chronology of his life and the lives of his family members.