Who declared William Shakespeare the chief of all poets in 1840?
Thomas Carlyle declared William Shakespeare the chief of all poets hitherto in 1840. This declaration created a cultural dissonance that fueled the initial authorship controversy.
Questions about Shakespeare authorship question
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Francis Bacon emerge as the first single alternative author proposed for William Shakespeare?
Francis Bacon emerged as the first single alternative author proposed in print by William Henry Smith in September 1856. The Francis Bacon Society was founded two years later to promote this theory.
What year did Edward de Vere become the top claimant for writing William Shakespeare's works?
J. Thomas Looney made Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, the top claimant with his book Shakespeare Identified published in 1920. More than 80 authorship candidates have been proposed since then.
Which historical figure named William Shakespeare as a playwright and poet in 1598?
Francis Meres named William Shakespeare as a playwright and poet in Palladis Tamia in 1598. He referred to twelve plays written by Shakespeare including four never published in quarto.
How many authorship candidates have been proposed for William Shakespeare since the early twentieth century?
More than 80 authorship candidates have been proposed since J. Thomas Looney identified Edward de Vere in 1920. Stylometric studies from the Claremont Shakespeare Clinic eliminated all claimants whose known works survived.