Brief biography of William Shakespeare. Interesting facts from his life

William Shakespeare is a globally renowned playwright, poet, and writer. Shakespeare is considered the greatest English-language writer, having penned 38 plays and 154 sonnets, including "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Othello." William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, a small town with a population of 1,500. Shakespeare's exact birthdate is unknown, but there is a record of his baptism dated April 26, 1564. His father, William, was a successful local tradesman, and his mother, Mary, was the daughter of a landowner. Shakespeare's father, prosperous before his birth, faced financial difficulties due to wool speculation and was later stripped of his alderman title. Though no records of attendance survive, Shakespeare likely received education at the new royal school in Stratford, a free school opened in 1553, located about a quarter-mile from his home. Around 1580, he had to leave school and start working. It is presumed that after leaving school, Shakespeare apprenticed with his father for a period. In 1582, at just 18, William married Anne Hathaway, who was 26. They had three children: Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. Their only son, Hamnet, died at the age of 11. In the latter half of the 1580s, Shakespeare left Stratford. This period is often referred to as the "lost" or "dark years," about which little is known. By the turn of the 1590s, Shakespeare arrived in London. It was during these years that he wrote his first play, the chronicle "Henry VI." Information about Shakespeare's life after marriage is fragmented, but it appears he spent much of his time in London, writing and performing in his plays. Thanks to timely investments, Shakespeare managed to secure a solid financial foundation, leaving time for writing and acting. One of his best investments was purchasing property near Stratford in 1605, which soon doubled in value. It is believed that he wrote most of his sonnets in the 1590s. This was a prolific period of writing, and his plays garnered significant interest and controversy. By the beginning of the seventeenth century, Shakespeare began writing tragedies. These plays, such as "Hamlet," "Othello," and "King Lear," often revolve around a fatal flaw or lack in the main character, providing a gripping portrayal of the darker aspects of human nature. These later plays are considered Shakespeare's greatest achievements. During his lifetime, Shakespeare sparked debate, but he also received generous praise for his plays, which were highly popular and commercially successful. Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, at the age of 52. In 1616, there was an outbreak of the bubonic plague, which may have been a contributing factor. He was buried at the altar of the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was accorded this honor not because he was a great playwright, but because he paid a tithe of £440 (a considerable sum at the time). Shakespeare is believed to be the author of the epitaph inscribed on his own tomb.
Good friend for Jesus sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blest be the man that spares thes stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.