Shakespeare ch c 1745 (Hobgoblin - Amorett by Bartlet's Childers). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 15.

Bred by Sir John Dutton, his dam, Amorett (ch f 1727), who was also called the Little Hartley Mare, was owned by the Earl of Godolphin. Lord Godolphin traded her, along with her foal, Old England, to Sir John Dutton in 1741, in exchange for Lady Cow and her foal, Marksman. Shakespeare was later purchased by Thomas Meredith of Easby, near Richmond, Yorkshire. A half brother to the Champion Sire  Blank (b c 1740 Godolphin Arabian) and Janus (b c 1738 Godolphin Arabian), he stood 15 hands 3 inches and was said to be a very strong, large boned horse and master of any weight. He ran for four years.

He stood at a number of places including Croydon, Surrey, where his fee was 1 guinea, then at Samuel Rudd's, Swaffham Market, Norfolk, for 2 guineas. When he was fourteen he stood at Thomas Thompson's, in Beverley-Skinner, near Beck-End, Yorkshire, and commanded a fee of 3 guineas. He was said to be in good health and spirits at the time. He was last advertised in 1773.