William Shakespeare Biography

William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer and dramatist in the English language. He is considered England’s national poet and is often called the “Bard of Avon,” or simply “the Bard.” Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, and was baptized on April 26, 1564. His body of work includes plays and poetry, especially sonnets. His plays have been widely translated, and are performed more often than plays by other playwrights.

At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was nearly ten years older than him. The couple had three children—Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner of Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a playing company, which was later renamed the King’s Men. His plays were accessible to a broader and varied audience across classes; they did not strictly cater to the upper classes. In 1594, Shakespeare acted before Queen Elizabeth, and in 1594-1595, his name appeared as one of the shareholders of the Lord Chamberlain’s Company.

On March 25, 1616, William Shakespeare revised his testament, and died a few weeks later on April 23 at the age of 52. His body lies in the chancel of Stratford church. As not much had been documented during his lifetime, there are several speculations about his personal life, appearance, religious beliefs, and sexuality. His early plays are regarded as some of the finest works ever produced, which are predominantly comedies and histories. His later works mainly include tragedies, all of which are considered the finest examples of the genre.