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William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. While his exact birth date is unknown, it's traditionally celebrated on April 23, which also coincidentally is the date of his death
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Shakespeare was baptized at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, three days after his birth. Baptism records suggest he was born a few days earlier, on April 23.
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At the age of 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 at the time. They had three children together: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith.
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Shakespeare's first child, Susanna, was born in 1583. This marked a significant personal milestone in his life, though there are few details about how his personal life influenced his work at this time.
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There is little historical record about Shakespeare’s activities between the birth of his twins in 1585 and his first known works in 1592. These years are often called "The Lost Years," with many theories but no concrete evidence about his activities.
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During the 1590s, Shakespeare wrote many of his iconic plays, including "Romeo and Juliet," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "Richard III." This period solidified his reputation as a master playwright.
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Shakespeare's career as a playwright is generally accepted to have begun around 1592. His works were being performed in London by this time, and the first known reference to him in print came in a pamphlet by Robert Greene, who criticized Shakespeare’s plays.
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In 1599, Shakespeare’s acting company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, built the Globe Theatre in London. This became one of the most famous playhouses of the time, where many of Shakespeare's plays were performed.
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After years of success in London, Shakespeare retired to Stratford-upon-Avon in 1613, likely due to his advancing age and wealth. During this time, he continued to write, but his involvement in the London theatre scene decreased.
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Shakespeare passed away on his 52nd birthday, April 23, 1616, in Stratford-upon-Avon. The exact cause of his death remains unknown, but his legacy as one of the greatest writers in the English language endures to this day.