William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He married Anne Hathaway at age 18 and had three children with her. Shakespeare went on to have a successful career as a playwright and poet in London, writing famous works such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and 154 sonnets. He was also an actor and shareholder in The Lord Chamberlain's Men theatrical company, making him a celebrated figure of the English Renaissance. Shakespeare died in 1616 at the age of 52.