William Shakespeare's birthdate is assumed to be April 25, the date of his baptism. His father, John Shakespeare, was the son of a farmer who rose to become a successful tradesman, while his mother, Mary Arden, was from a gentry background.
William studied Latin works at Stratford Grammar School, leaving at around the age of 15. During this time, his father faced an unknown financial setback, although the family home remained in his possession. William's personal life took a significant turn when he became involved with Anne Hathaway, a farmer's daughter eight years his senior, which resulted in pregnancy and a hasty marriage in late 1582.
The couple's first child, Susanna, was born in May 1583, followed by twins Hamnet and Judith in January 1585. By 1592, William had established himself as an actor and playwright in London, although the details of his career path before this time are still debated. The London theatres were forced to close due to the plague, and William may have toured during this period. He also wrote two long poems, "Venus and Adonis" and "The Rape of Lucrece".
There is some speculation that William may have spent this time at the estate of the Earl of Southampton. By December 1594, he was back in London as a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a company he would remain with for the rest of his life. In 1596, William purchased a coat of arms for his father, and also suffered the loss of his 11-year-old son Hamnet. The following year, he purchased the grand Stratford mansion New Place.
A 1598 edition of "Love's Labors" was the first to bear William's name, although he was already widely regarded as England's greatest playwright. He is believed to have written his "Sonnets" during the 1590s. In 1599, William became a partner in the new Globe Theatre, and the company joined the royal household upon the accession of James in 1603. This marks the last year in which William appeared in a cast list.
It seems that William retired to Stratford in 1612, where he continued to be active in real estate investment. The cause of his death remains unknown.
