The Death of William Shakespeare - 23 April 1616
On This Day (23 Apr) in 1616, actor, poet and playwright William Shakespeare died at his home, New Place, in Stratford-upon-Avon, the town where he had been born 52 years previously.
Shakespeare had been born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, where he received his education. He was married in 1582 to Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children - Susanna, Hamnet and Judith.
By 1592, Shakespeare had pursued his literary career in London, and become a member of the performing troupe The Chamberlain's Men, who were later known as The King's Men, for whom he wrote most of his plays during his career. He was also known to have written plays that were also performed by the another acting company, Pembroke's Men, including a first variation of 'The Taming of the Shrew'.
Shakespeare retired to Stratford in 1613, after spending most of his career living between the Midlands and London. Whilst he wrote his will the month prior to his death, describing himself as being in "perfect health", he died on 23 Apr 1616, around his 52th birthday. He was then buried in the town's Holy Trinity Church two days after his death, on 25 Apr.
7 years after his death, the 'The First Folio' 36 of his plays, including half which had been previously unpublished, were edited and published as 'The First Folio', by former colleagues John Heminges and Henry Condell, with support from patrons William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, the Lord Chamberlain (being responsible for organisation of court entertainment and patron of Pembroke's Men) and his younger brother Philip Herbert, 1st Earl of Montgomery, to whom the folio is dedicated.
On the second page of The First Folio, a dedication is made to its patrons, "the Most Noble and Incomparable Paire of Brethren": brothers Wi
