1558 - Elizabeth I becomes queen of England.
1564 - Shakespeare was born, probably on April 23. Also, Christopher Marlowe was born.
1582 - Married Anne Hathaway.
1583 - Daughter, Susanna, born.
1585 - Twins, Judith and Hamnet born.
1589-90 - Henry VI part 1 written. *Note: dates for the writing of Shakespeare's works are approximate.*
1590-91 - Henry VI part 2 and Henry VI part 3 written.
1592-94 - Comedy of Errors written
1592-93 - Richard III written.
1593-4 - Rape of Lucrece (poem), Titus Andronicus and The Taming of the Shrew written.
1593-1600 - Sonnets written.
1594 - Actor and playwright for the Lord Chamberlain's Men. Two Gentlemen of Verona written.
1594-95 - Love's Labour's Lost written.
1594-96 - King John written.
1595 - Richard II written.
1595-96 - A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet written.
1596 - Coat of Arms purchased.
1596-97 - The Merchant of Venice written.
1597-1601 - The Merry Wives of Windsor written.
1597 - Henry IV part 1 written.
1598 - Henry IV part 2 written.
1598-99 - Much Ado about Nothing written.
1599 - Henry V, Julius Caesar and As You Like It written.
1600-01 - Hamlet written.
1601-02 - Twelfth Night and Troilus and Cressida written.
1602-03 - All's Well That Ends Well written.
1603 - James I became king of England.
1604 - Othello and Measure for Measure written.
1605 - King Lear written.
1606 - Macbeth written.
1606-07 - Antony and Cleopatra written.
1607-08 - Timon of Athens, Coriolanus and Pericles written.
1609-10 - Cymbeline written.
1610-11 - The Winter's Tale written.
1611 - The Tempest written.
1612-13 - Henry VIII written.
1613 - Retired and returned to the New Place in Stratford.
1616 - Died, probably April 23. Shakespeare's complete works are published by King James I.