William Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon in 1564. He began his formal education and later fell in love with Anne Hathaway in 1582. They married in 1583 and had their first child, Susanna, that year. In 1585, Shakespeare decided to move to London to pursue a career in theater. He had twins, Hamnet and Judith, that year. By 1592, he had become a successful actor and playwright in London. His son Hamnet passed away in 1596 at age 11. In later life, Shakespeare purchased property, helped build the Globe Theater, and continued writing until retiring to Stratford in 1616, having written 36 plays and 156 sonnets.