Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. His father, John Shakespeare, was a successful glove-maker and wool dealer. His mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a well-to-do farmer.
Shakespeare had seven brothers and sisters, but only three of them survived to adulthood: Joan, Gilbert, and Richard. Shakespeare himself was the third child.
Shakespeare's childhood is not well-documented, but it is believed that he attended the King's New School in Stratford-upon-Avon. The school was one of the best in England, and Shakespeare would have received a good education there.
In 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. Anne was eight years older than Shakespeare, and she was already pregnant with their first child, Susanna. Shakespeare and Anne had three children together: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith.
In 1587, Shakespeare left Stratford-upon-Avon and moved to London. He began acting and writing plays for the theater. By the end of the 1590s, Shakespeare had become one of the most popular playwrights in England.
Shakespeare continued to write plays until he retired to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613. He died on April 23, 1616, at the age of 52.