Shakespeare

Prior and after William's birth, John Shakespeare was an exceptional member of the Stratford community. He was elected to several high civic positions, such as ale-taster to the borough, chamberlain of the borough, alderman, chief alderman, and high bailiff, or mayor. However, by 1578, John Shakespeare was behind in his taxes and became an absentee on the civic council. Finally, he was forced to mortgage his wife's estate; and was even fined for missing church. John Shakespeare's business ventures would affect William's future. John began as a leather tanner, became a farm products and wool dealer, and later a justice of the peace. However, luckily for literature, it was John's later financial difficulties that would prevent William from becoming an apprentice to his father. The now world-renowned author began his life with humble beginnings. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, on April 26, 1564, (St. George's Day) to John and Mary Shakespeare. William's accepted birthplace was John Shakespeare's home on Henley Street. .
             William faced many obstacles while growing up, and was lucky to have lived till adulthood at all. During Shakespeare's childhood, plague and pestilence was running rampant throughout England and Europe. Although we are certain William did survive childhood, little information is known about William's education. It is assumed he began Stratford Grammar School, because of its proximity to his house, and because of John Shakespeare's social status. If Shakespeare did attend school there, he would have learned reading and writing from a hornbook. This would be an accomplishment, since most scholars believe both John and Mary Shakespeare were illiterate. Assuming William did attend Stratford Grammar School, he would have been trained in English literature as well as been familiarized with Latin authors such as Seneca, Cicero, Ovid, Virgil, and Horace.