William Shakespeare is often regarded as being the greatest to grace the Earth. Baptised on the 26th April 1564 and died 23rd April 1616 (the 23rd April 1564 is often regarded as being his birthday as traditionally babies were baptised 3 days after their birth). Shakespeare wrote a total of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and several other poems besides. He is often called England's national poet and the 'Bard of Avon'. His plays have been translated into all the major living languages and they are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway- and famously left her the 'second best bed', a gesture that suggested their love and company was enough, and far better than any material item- with whom he had three children: Susannah (baptised 26th May 1583) and twins Hamnet and Judith (2 February 1585). Hamnet died for unknown reasons at the tender age of 11.
Shakespeare's true passion was stories and the theatre:
"All the world's a stage,
and all the men and women merely players:
they have their exits and their entrances;
and one man in his time plays many parts..."
