Interesting Facts About the Bard

What do you know about the greatest writer in the English language of all time? Sure, you might be familiar with his most famous plays, like Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo & Juliet. But did you know he had a rival playwright? Or how his death—and much of his life—remains a mystery? From these peculiarities and many more, here are 20 surprising facts you likely didn't know about William Shakespeare.

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1. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon

A quaint, medieval market town along the River Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare was modest compared to his fame and status. It's now a popular place to day trip to from London, where the street and house the Bard used to live in are still preserved.

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2. Married When He Was 18

Shakespeare married his wife, Anne Hathaway, when he was just 18. Not only was Hathaway eight years older than him, she was also pregnant with their first child at the time of their marriage. She would eventually give birth to two more, and together they had three children: Hamnet Shakespeare, Judith Quiney, and Susanna Hall.

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3. Never Left England

Despite many of his plays—Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, All's Well That Ends Well—being set in various countries, Shakespeare never actually left England himself. Perhaps it's a testament to his playwright skills that he was able to write about so many different places even though he'd never been.

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4. A Favorite of the King

Shakespeare was a favorite of King James I, who was a patron of The King's Men, the Bard's theater company. He would end up writing Macbeth for the king with several distinct nods: for one, the play is set in James' native country, Scotland, and Banquo is inspired by an ancestor of the king.

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5. Was an Actor

Believe it or not, Shakespeare wasn't only a writer and playwright—he was also an actor. Back in the day,  many acted out their own plays, and Shakespeare was no exception on this front. He likely started acting even before he got into writing!

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6. Introduced Around 3000 Words to English

If you've ever wondered why Shakespeare and his plays are so important that they're a regular part of the school curriculum, it's because the Bard helped make significant advancements in the language. In particular, it's estimated he introduced around 3000 words to English, credited by the Oxford English Dictionary.

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7. His Skull Was Likely Stolen

Initially dismissed as untrue, it now seems likely that Shakespeare's head was stolen from his grave. This was probably done by grave robbers, who, back in the 17th and 18th centuries, would steal skulls of the deceased to examine what made them a genius. 

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8. Had Seven Siblings

Shakespeare was not an only child, In fact, he had as many as seven siblings, of which he was the oldest surviving child; the first two children of John and Mary Shakespeare were girls who didn't live past infancy. He had three younger brothers and two younger sisters.

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9. Wrote 39 Plays

Though it's not definite how many number of plays Shakespeare wrote, the total is around 39. His plays typically fell into one of three categories: comedies (A Midsummer Night's Dream), tragedies (Macbeth), and histories (Henry V).

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10. May Have Died On His Birthday

Though it's not certain what day Shakespeare was born, his birthday is often stated to be April 23, 1564. If this date is correct, that means he unfortunately passed on his birthday at the young age of 52. Even to this day, the exact cause of his death is not known.

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11. Unknown Cause of Death

We know where the Bard is buried, but the cause of his death remains a mystery to this day. The only little information that's known comes from a diary entry of John Ward, the vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare is buried: "Shakespeare, Drayton, and Ben Jonson had a merry meeting and it seems drank too hard, for Shakespeare died of a fever there contracted."

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12. His Grave Is Cursed

Though his skull was likely stolen, Shakespeare had placed a curse on his own grave to ward off anyone who disturbed his infinite sleep. In his epitaph, he wrote: "Good friend, for Jesus' sake forebeare/ To digg the dust enclosed heare/ Bleste be the man that spares thes stones,/ And curst be he that moves my bones."

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13. Never Attended University

With all that's known about Shakespeare and his life, there are still gaps and periods in which historians aren't sure about. It's likely that the Bard, despite his literacy and playwright skills, never went to university, as there were no records of his attendance.

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14. Wore a Gold Hoop Earring in One Ear

One peculiar fact is that Shakespeare may have worn a gold hoop earring in one ear, as depicted in multiple portraits. Perhaps most famous is the Chandos portrait, believed to have been painted in the early 1600s. In the painting, Shakespeare is seen with thick hair and a high forehead, a scruffy beard, and a hoop earring.

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15. Lived a Double Life

Shakespeare had established himself as a famous, successful playwright in London by the 17th century, but back home in Stratford-upon-Avon, he was merely a well-respected property owner and businessman. Given his career and fame, he rarely saw his wife and children.

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16. His Parents and Children Were Likely Illiterate

During the Elizabethan era, especially in the earlier years rather than toward the end, many people were illiterate. This seemed to have been true for Shakespeare's parents, John and Mary—which was typical for their social class—as well as for his children. 

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17. Left His Wife His "Second Best Bed"

After his death, Shakespeare left a few gifts to his family in his will. In particular, he gave his daughter, Susanna, his property, while leaving his wife, Hathaway, his "second best bed": "Item I gyve unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture." The bed likely refers to their marriage bed, while "furniture" refers to the curtains and bedcovers.

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18. Had a Rival—Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe was another playwright in London, and he and Shakespeare would contend for patrons and audiences. Despite the "rivalry" between them, it's believed Marlowe and Shakespeare collaborated on a few titles. Unfortunately, Marlowe succumbed to his death in a pub brawl, at the hands of Ingram Frizer.

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19. Years Between 1585 and 1592 Remain a Mystery

Known as the "Lost Years," little is known about what Shakespeare did in the period between 1585 and 1592. In 1582, his twins, Hamnet and Judith, were baptized; in 1592, he arrived in London. But in the years between, it's not certain where he was or what he'd done. Historians have speculated he was either a teacher, studied law, or traveled around until he eventually set his sights on the English capital.

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20. "Shakespeare" Is Probably Spelled Incorrectly

The way we spell Shakespeare's name is probably not actually how it's spelled. At the time, proper spelling and grammar rules likely weren't yet in place, so there were about 80 ways Shakespeare's name was spelled, ranging from "Shappere" to "Shaxberd." Even the Bard himself never signed his name the way we know it now.

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