In the case of William Shakespeare, I was told that he was knighted informally,honorable mention, is this true

Question

I have read the literature and the biography and I am just more curious now than ever to find out.

Answer 1

Although, contrary to what another answerer says, Elizabeth and James I both liked his plays:
'which so did take Eliza, and our James!' - Ben Jonson - Shakespeare was never knighted. The theatre wasn't a respectable profession. The first theatrical knight was Sir Henry Irving, three hundred years later.
Shakespeare did obtain a grant of arms, which allowed him to write 'Gentleman' after his name. For this he had to pay money down, and the College of Heralds 'discovered' that his father had had the coat of arms. This happened in 1596.

Answer 2

Shakespeare was never knighted and not much appreciated in his time, in fact Queen Elizabeth hated him with a passion. King James later complimented his plays and asked him to write another one, but didn't knight him. When he died, there was literally no mention of his name in the papers in tribute. It was only many years later when he plays were published did his fame start to grow.

Answer 3

He wasn't "knighted" as much as he had a night on the town....


I think it was in Stratford on Avon.




g-day!