- William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
- His father, John Shakespeare, was a successful businessman and held various positions in local government.
- His mother, Mary Arden, came from a prominent local family.
Education:
- Shakespeare's formal education is a subject of debate, but it is generally believed that he attended the King's New School in Stratford, where he would have studied Latin and other classical subjects.
- Some scholars believe that he may have continued his education at the University of Oxford or Cambridge, but there is no concrete evidence to support this.
Marriage and Children:
- In 1582, at the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his senior.
- The couple had three children: Susanna, born in 1583; and twins Hamnet and Judith, born in 1585.
- Tragically, Hamnet died at the age of 11 in 1596.
Early Career:
- Shakespeare's early career is not well-documented, but it is known that he began writing plays in the late 1580s.
- He became a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a prominent acting company, in 1594 and remained with them for the rest of his career.
Success as a Playwright:
- Shakespeare quickly gained recognition as a talented playwright and went on to write some of the most famous plays in the English language, including "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet," "King Lear," and "Macbeth."
- His plays were popular with audiences of all social classes and were performed at the Globe Theatre, a playhouse built for the Lord Chamberlain's Men in 1599.
Later Life and Death:
- Shakespeare continued to write and produce plays until his retirement to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613.
- He passed away on April 23, 1616, at the age of 52, and was buried in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford.