Shakespeare
Shakespeare's reputation as dramatist and poet actor is unique and he is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time, although many of the facts of his life remain mysterious.

William Shakespeare was born in England Stratford-upon-Avon on 23 April 1564. His father was a glovemaker and wool merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, the daughter of a well-to-do local landowner. Shakespeare was educated in Stratford's grammar school. In 1582 at 18 years of age, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, a lady seven or eight years older than he. The couple had a daughter (Susanna) the following year, and twins (Hamlet and Judith), in 1585. Shakespeare only reappearing in London in 1592, when he was already working in the theatre, he was established playwright in London. In 1598, Burbage moved to bankside and built the famous globe theatre, in which Shakespeare owned stock.
Shakespeare's acting career was spent with the Lord Chamberlain's Company, which was renamed the King's Company in 1603 when James I succeeded to the throne. Among the actors in the group was the famous Richard Burbage. Among others, some of the writers who frequented Shakespeare were Sir Walter Raleigh, and Ben Jonson. Shakespeare's poetry was published before his plays. Most of Shakespeare's sonnets were probably written at this time as well. Records of Shakespeare's plays begin to appear in 1594, and he produced roughly two a year until around 1611. His earliest plays include 'Henry VI' and 'Titus Andronicus'. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Richard II' all date from the mid to late 1590s. Some of his most famous tragedies were written in the early 1600s including 'Hamlet', 'Othello', 'King Lear' and 'Macbeth'. His late plays, often known as the Romances, date from 1608 onwards and include 'The Tempest'. Shakespeare retired from theatre in 1610 and returned to Stratford. In 1613 the Globe Theatre burned down, but Shakespeare remained