Full name: William Shakespeare Born: 23rd April 1564 Place of Birth: Stratford-Upon-Avon Occupation: Actor, Playwright and Theatre Administrator Died: 23rd April 1616

William Shakespeare was born on 23rd April 1564 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. William Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare was a glove maker and wool merchant but experienced financial difficulties. 

In the sixteenth century, there was no compulsory system of education, but it is thought that Shakespeare was educated at King Edward VI, Stratford Grammar School.  The period of time between Shakespeare leaving school and marrying his wife is called his 'lost years' because little is known about how he spent this part of his life.

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582 in Worcester and they had two children.  Much of Shakespeare's early life has not been documented in detail and this period of time is often referred to as 'the lost years', but he began a career in acting in 1592 with Lord Chamberlain's Company in London, which was renamed the King's Company in 1603. Shakespeare became known as one of 'The Chamberlain's Men' and was based at the Globe and Blackfriars theatres on the banks of the River Thames. 

Shakespeare first began writing poetry and sonnets in 1593 and 1594 and soon after, he began writing his world renowned plays.  It is thought that Shakespeare produced around two plays a year from 1594 to 1611, starting with histories and comedies, 'Henry VI', 'Titus Andronicus', 'A Midsummer Nights Dream', 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Richard II'. 

According to scholars, Shakespeare's history plays were his way of expressing the origins of the Tudor dynasty. Shakespeare's famous tragedies and tragicomedies were mostly written in the early 1600s, including 'Hamlet', 'Othello', 'King Lear' and 'Macbeth', whilst his later plays included romances such as 'The Tempest'.  Shakespeare's tragedies were dark narratives and depicted highly dramatic, charismatic and vivid characters, whilst his tragicomedies include, 'The Winter's Tale', 'The Tempest' and 'Cymbeline' and were less severe.

Shakespeare died at the age of 52 on 23rd April 1616. it is thought that Shakespeare produced around 38 plays, 154 Sonnets and two long narrative poems which were collated in the 'First Folio' produced in 1623, shortly after his death.  The complete works of Shakespeare are still studied and enjoyed today and remain one of the some of the most famous poems and plays of all time.  William Shakespeare died on his birthday on 23rd April 1616.