The best known of Shakespeare's last words are the six Julius Caesar uttered when struck down by ignoble conspirators. Sudden death stifled the articulate Roman's tongue, and all he had time to say was, 'Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar!' Similarly, the garrulous Lord Chamberlain, Polonius, could cry only, 'O!
William Shakespeare left his wife their 'second best bed' in his last will and testament, probate records show. Britain's most famous playwright William Shakespeare left his wife their 'second best bed' in his will. The Bard's 1616 will also reveals how he left £150 to each of his daughters, more than £380,000 today.
No, his death was not unnoticed. He has a substantial and laudatory monument in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford-upon-Avon, the place where he was born and where he died. More to the point, the First Folio of 1623 conclusively demonstrates that he was far from unnoticed.
When William Shakespeare died he famously left his wife Anne only one thing: their 'second best bed'.
King James VI of Scotland
William Shakespeare facts
- Full name: William Shakespeare.
- Born: Exact date unknown, but baptised 26 April 1564.
- Hometown: Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
- Occupation: Playwright, actor and poet.
- Died: 23 April 1616.
- Best known for: Writing hugely successful theatre plays!
- Also known as: The Bard of Avon.
Shakespeare died at just 52 years of age. If we take into account the fact that Shakespeare was a wealthy man by the end of his life, this is a relatively young age for him to die. Frustratingly, there is no record of the exact date of Shakespeare's birth and death -- only of his baptism and burial.
When you think of Shakespeare, you probably have a particular image of the Bard in mind: a receding hairline, heavy-lidded eyes, a thin mustache, and long, wavy hair. Since the mid-17th century, scholars have thought that the figure in the below Chandos Portrait, painted in 1610, was Shakespeare.
Hamnet Shakespeare (baptised 2 February 1585 – buried 11 August 1596) was the only son of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, and the fraternal twin of Judith Shakespeare. He died at the age of 11.
Juliet sees Romeo dead beside her, and surmises from the empty vial that he has drunk poison. Hearing the approaching watch, Juliet unsheathes Romeo's dagger and, saying, “O happy dagger, / This is thy sheath,” stabs herself (5.3. 171). She dies upon Romeo's body.
We do know that Shakespeare's life revolved around two locations: Stratford and London. He grew up, had a family, and bought property in Stratford, but he worked in London, the center of English theater. As an actor, a playwright, and a partner in a leading acting company, he became both prosperous and well-known.
| William Shakespeare |
|---|
| Baptised | 26 April 1564 |
| Died | 23 April 1616 (aged 52) Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England |
| Resting place | Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Occupation | Playwright poet actor |
Shakespeare and Company (bookstore)
| Owner | Sylvia Beach Whitman |
| Type | Bookstore |
| Opened | 19 November 1919 1922 1951 |
| Website |
|---|
| shakespeareandcompany.com |
No birth records exist, but an old church record indicates that a William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564. From this, it is believed he was born on or near April 23, 1564, and this is the date scholars acknowledge as Shakespeare's birthday.
April 23 is also St George's Day and the United Nations' World Book and Copyright Day, which was a natural choice to pay a worldwide tribute to writers such as Shakespeare.
Quick Facts.
| This year: | Thu, Apr 23, 2020 |
|---|
| Type: | Observance |
Why Shakespeare's Birthday is Celebrated on the Same Day as His Death. Alas, poor Shakespeare! 402 years ago, on April 23, 1616, the famous English playwright died at the age of 52.
His date of birth is unknown, but is traditionally observed on 23 April, Saint George's Day. This date, which can be traced to a mistake made by an 18th-century scholar, has proved appealing to biographers because Shakespeare died on the same date in 1616.
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in April 1564. The exact date of his birth is not recorded, but it is most often celebrated around the world on 23 April. This means that it's unlikely that Shakespeare was born any earlier than the previous Sunday, 23 April.
That's why the curse on his grave at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford-Upon-Avon should be taken seriously: "Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones."
Richard Burbage (c.1571-1619)
Along with John Heminges and Henry Condell, Burbage received 26 shillings and 8 pence in Shakespeare's will. He was one of William Shakespeare's theatre friends from London.William Shakespeare's Death
Just like with his birthday, Shakespeare's exact date of death is a mystery. It is commonly said that he died on April 23, 1616, but no record of his death exists, only a record of his funeral on April 25, 1616.No birth records exist, but an old church record indicates that a William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564. From this, it is believed he was born on or near April 23, 1564, and this is the date scholars acknowledge as Shakespeare's birthday.
