William Shakespeare baptised, 26 April 1564

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Date:26th of April 1564

Description:Entry in the parish register, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, recording the baptism of William Shakespeare on 26 April 1564. The entry is in Latin: 'Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere' (William son of John Shakespeare). At a later date the entry was highlighted with crosses so that it could be more easily identified.

Using contemporary practice as a guide (and the evidence of his age at death, see burial entry), his date of birth is traditionally taken to have been 23 April.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust reference: DR 243/1


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1570s
Henri Estienne, A mervaylous discourse upon... Katherine de Medici…, 1575 - title page
Henri Estienne, A mervaylous discourse upon... Katherine de Medici…, 1575 - title page

Shakespeare may have owned this book. Shakespeare purchased New Place, the largest ...

1590s
William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, 1594, leaf F4v.
William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, 1594, leaf F4v.

Shakespeare’s first published works. The long poem, Venus and Adonis, was ...

1610s
Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612 - Antony and Cleopatra, p. 922, detail.
Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612 - Antony and Cleopatra, p. 922, detail.

Shakespeare followed this description of Cleopatra. Shakespeare became very ...

1630s
William Shakespeare, Quartos, Love's Labour's Lost, 1631 - title page
William Shakespeare, Quartos, Love's Labour's Lost, 1631 - title page

A play for the Blackfriars Theatre: Shakespeare's Love’s Labour’s Lost. The ...

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Donor ref:DR243/1 f.5 baptisms (34/10704)

Source: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

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