Christopher Marlowe Fact File Biography: Lifespan: 1564 - 1593 *** Full Name: Christopher Marlowe *** Nickname Kit Marlowe *** Occupation: English Playwright, Poet and Translator *** Date of Birth: Christopher Marlowe was baptized at St George’s Church on February 26th 1564 *** Place of Birth: Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury, Kent, England *** Family background: His father was John Marlowe and his mother Catherine. His father was a shoemaker by trade *** Early life and childhood: He grew up in Canterbury *** Education: Christopher Marlowe began his education at The King’s School in Canterbury followed by Corpus Christi College in Cambridge. Christopher Marlowe was admitted on a scholarship and was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1584 and then continued to work towards his Master of Arts degree ***
Christopher Marlowe Fact 1: Christopher Marlowe was baptized on February 26th 1564, the year of William Shakespeare's birth.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 2: There was some controversy over his being awarded his Master of Arts degree, if was thought perhaps he was secretly convert to Catholicism and he was also absence frequently and so the college were reluctant to award his degree. However, the Privy Council stepped in and advised them that he was actually working “on matters touching the benefit of his country” which appeared to appease any suspicions they may have had and he was indeed awarded his degree on schedule.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 3: It is believed his first work was Dido, Queen of Carthage and it was performed by a company of boy actors from the Children of the Chapel between 1587 and 1593.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 4: The first play by Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great, was performed on the stage in 1587 in London.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 5: Part two of the Tamburlaine the Great was performed later.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 6: There were many rumors regarding the involvement of Christopher Marlowe with Sir Francis Walsingham, the spymaster of Queen Elizabeth I, and his intelligence services.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 7: There was never any direct proof that Christopher Marlowe was involved in Walsingham's spy network, but the spymaster was careful and ensured that all written documents were kept top secret.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 8: The strongest evidence of Christopher Marlowe's involvement as a spy was the Privy Council’s letter defending Marlowe to his critics. The letter quite clearly lays out the he was in fact serving at her majesty’s pleasure in some sort of secret activity.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 9: After his first two plays were written there is controversy over which of his subsequent plays came next.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 10: Christopher Marlowe was a controversial man, well known for his outbursts of violence and scandalous conduct.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 11: Living in a time when the subject of religion was highly contentious, Christopher Marlowe learned to step carefully around this subject.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 12: Christopher Marlowe had been heard to express his views as being an atheist and at one point was arrested on the order of the Privy Council and endured a terrifying audience before the Star Chamber .
Christopher Marlowe Fact 13: He was imprisoned for two days and his release was conditional upon him to attend daily on their lordships until they decided otherwise.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 14: In 1589 Christopher Marlowe was arrested for murder. He was fiery tempered and always been swift to make enemies. After two weeks spent in Newgate Goal he was fortunate to find himself acquitted of all charges.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 15: His work as a playwright gained favor with the public and much of Marlowe's work was supported by Edward Alleyn, a major figure of the Elizabethan theatre.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 16: Christopher Marlowe was also a great poet and his exquisite poem 'Passionate Shepherd to His Love', that commences with the words "Come live with me, and be my love", continues its popularity to the present dayChristopher Marlowe Fact 17: Much of what is known of Christopher Marlowe has been gleaned by official records although having said that a lot can be read into what was not reported about him.
Christopher Marlowe Fact 18: Under suspicious circumstances Christopher Marlowe was killed on May 30th 1593 by a being stabbed with a dagger directly above his right eye. He was killed instantly. Christopher Marlowe died in Deptford in Kent, England and his body laid to rest in St Nicholas’s Church in Deptford.
List of Plays by Christopher Marlowe:
*** Dido, Queen of Carthage c. 1586 *** Tamburlaine part 1 c. 1587 *** Tamburlaine part 2 c. 1587-1588 *** The Jew of Malta c. 1589 *** Doctor Faustus c. 1589 *** Edward II c. 1592 *** The Massacre at Paris c. 1593 ***
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