Who was William Shakespeare? Only one of the most famous English writers in history, of course! Stratford-upon-Avon in the United Kingdom was where William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was born and where he spent his childhood. When he was 18 years old, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway and the couple had three children together: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith (twins). Shakespeare was a successful actor and poet in London and a part-time owner of Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a playing company that became known as the King’s Men. He retired at about 49 in Stratford, where he passed away three years later. There are few surviving records of Shakespeare’s private life and therefore, there have been many speculations and fantastical stories regarding his religious beliefs, sexuality, and whether some of his works were written by him or someone else.