William Shakespeare was a famous English playwright, poet and director born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He married Anne Hathaway and had three children, though one died at a young age. Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers of the English language and is best known for his plays and poems, having lived most of his life in 16th century Stratford-upon-Avon where he was also baptized and died.