William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He married Anne Hathaway and had three children, though little is known about his early life. Shakespeare wrote some of the most famous plays in English literature, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Though his works became very popular, some have questioned whether Shakespeare actually wrote them himself due to his relatively modest education. Shakespeare greatly influenced English literature and language and is considered one of the greatest writers of all time.