Shakespeare was born on 23th of April 1564 in Stratford on Avon near London. His family was "well-off". His father was John Shakespeare, he was a glovemaker, shop keeper, land owner an bailiff (mayor) of Stratford. His mother, Mary Arden, intherited land which was bequeathed to William. William had 7 brothers and sisters. He probably attended the free grammar school until 15 mainly studying latin, he read much Mythology, Ovid, Plutarch's Lives, etc., which he used as sources. He married Anne Hathaway on 27th of November 1582. Anne was 8 years older than Shakespeare and they had 3 children those were Susanna, the older, Hamnet and Judith, who were twins. He lived in London most of his life and had little to do with Stratford, although he became its third largest landowner, and eventually retired there. By 1592, he was reconognized as a successful actor on the London stage, as well as a leading poet. He was a member of a repertory gorup, Chamberlain's Men. He wrote least 38 plays, as well as sonnets and other poems. He revolutionized the English stage with his dramatic and poetic genius. He retired from the theatre to his native Stratford, sometime between 1611 and 1613. He bought a large house called "New Place." He died on his 52nd birthday on 23th of April 1616 in Stratford and was buried in the chancel of the Church of Holy Trinity.
