John Shakespeare
Father of playwright William Shakespeare (c. 1531–1601) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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John Shakespeare (c. 1531 – 7 September 1601) was an English businessman and politician who was the father of William Shakespeare. Active in Stratford-upon-Avon, he was a glover and whittawer (leather worker) by trade. Shakespeare was elected to several municipal offices, serving as an alderman and culminating in a term as bailiff, the chief magistrate of the town council, and mayor of Stratford in 1568, before he fell on hard times for reasons unknown.[1] His fortunes later revived and he was granted a coat of arms five years before his death, probably at the instigation and expense of his son, the actor and playwright.[2][3]
John Shakespeare | |
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![]() Arms granted in 1596 | |
Born | c. 1531 Snitterfield, Warwickshire, England |
Died | 7 September 1601(1601-09-07) (aged 69–70) Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England |
Spouse | Mary Arden |
Children | 8, including William, Gilbert, Joan and Edmund |
Parent |
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Family | Shakespeare family |
He married Mary Arden, with whom he had eight children, five of whom survived into adulthood.[4]