William Shakespeare was a renowned English playwright, poet, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and one of the world's pre-eminent dramatists, often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"

. Shakespeare's body of work includes approximately 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and several narrative poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more frequently than those of any other playwright. His works capture a wide range of human emotions and conflicts, making them timeless and universally relevant

. He married Anne Hathaway at age 18 and had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare began his career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner of the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). He retired to Stratford around 1613 and died in 1616, possibly on his birthday, April 23

. Shakespeare's legacy includes inventing or popularizing over 1,700 English words and many common phrases still in use today. His reputation as a dramatic genius was solidified in the 19th century, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted worldwide

. In summary, William Shakespeare was a seminal figure of the English Renaissance whose literary and theatrical contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on literature and culture globally