William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564 to 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor who is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He wrote about 39 plays and 154 sonnets, including Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Romeo and Juliet, and his company built the Globe Theatre in London. He died in Stratford-upon-Avon at the age of 52. This biography follows his life and work.
William Shakespeare at a Glance
| Full name | William Shakespeare |
| Born | Baptised 26 April 1564; birth traditionally given as 23 April 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, England |
| Died | 23 April 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon (aged 52) |
| Profession | Playwright, poet and actor |
| Works | About 39 plays and 154 sonnets |
| Companies | Lord Chamberlain's Men (1594); King's Men (from 1603) |
| Theatre | The Globe, built in 1599 |
| Spouse | Anne Hathaway (married 1582) |
| Children | Susanna, and the twins Hamnet and Judith |
Early Life in Stratford
Shakespeare was baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon on 26 April 1564, and his birth is traditionally given as 23 April, so the baptism date is the firmer piece of evidence. His parents were John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. Few records survive from his early life, which is why historians rely on church and legal documents for the main dates.
Marriage and Family
In 1582, at the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. He was a father at 19. Their daughter Susanna was baptised on 26 May 1583, when he was 19, and their twins, Hamnet and Judith, were baptised on 2 February 1585. Hamnet died at the age of 11 and was buried on 11 August 1596, when his father was 32.
London and the Theatre
Shakespeare worked in London as an actor and writer. His company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, became the King's Men in 1603 after James I came to the throne. The Globe Theatre was built in 1599, and many of his best-known plays were staged there.
Plays and Sonnets
The standard count is about 39 plays and 154 sonnets. His plays include comedies, histories and tragedies, and some of them were written with other authors. The sonnets are among the best-known poems in the English language.
The First Folio
Seven years after his death, in 1623, two colleagues, John Heminges and Henry Condell, published the First Folio, a collected edition that contains 36 of his plays.
Death
Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616, at the age of 52, and he was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford two days later, on 25 April 1616. In his will he left his wife "my second best bed", a bequest that has prompted much speculation.
Legacy
Shakespeare's plays have been widely translated and are performed around the world, and the Globe, the playhouse built in 1599, has become one of the best-known theatres associated with his name. Because his birth is traditionally given as 23 April and he died on 23 April, tradition holds that he died on his 52nd birthday. His influence on English can be seen in many everyday phrases, and his characters are still used to explore love, ambition, jealousy and power.
