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William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, a town which is about 100 miles northwest of London. Since birth records were not kept as diligently in the 16th century, April 23 has been assigned as Shakespeare's birthday by tradition, and not necessarily by historical accuracy. April 23rd had long been considered an ideal date to assign to prominent English poets, as this date had been associated with St. George, the patron saint of England.
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In the 16th century, it was a common custom to baptize babies a few days after birth - possibly due to high infant mortality rates. Church records provide Shakespeare's actual date of baptism, which enables historians to make an educated guess on his date of birth.
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Anne Hathaway was the daughter of Richard Hathaway of Shottery. She was eight years older than Shakespeare and three months pregnant at the time of their wedding.
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Two years later, Shakespeare and his wife also had two twins named Hamnet and Judith.
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The theatres had been closed a year before due to an alarming number of plague deaths.
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Shakespeare wrote this play about the starcrossed lovers in late 1594 or early 1595.
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This was also the year that Shakespeare's own father died, leading many critics to consider "Hamlet' as Shakespeare's most personal play.
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Following Queen Elizabeth's death, King James VI initiates the Jacobean Age.
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Shakespeare gives up his craft shortly after "The Tempest" was first performed. It is interesting to note that in the play, the character of Prospero also gives up his craft.
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Shakespeare was buried in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. This was the same place where he was baptized. His grave marker reads: "Good friend, for Jesus' sake forebeare / To digg the dust enclosed heare; / Bleste be the man that spares thes stones, / And curst be he that moves my bones"
