William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was a great English playwright, playwright and poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Shakespeare is considered the greatest playwright of all time. No other writer's works have been performed so many times or read so widely in so many countries as his. Shakespeare was born to middle-class parents. His father, John, was a Stratford businessman. He was a glove maker who owned a leather shop. John Shakespeare was a well known and respected man in the city. He held several important local government positions. William Shakespeare's mother was Mary Arden. Although she was the daughter of a local farmer, she was related to a family of considerable wealth and social standing. Mary Arden and John Shakespeare married in 1557. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford in 1564. He was one of eight children. The Shakespeares were highly respected prominent figures. When William Shakespeare was about seven years old, he probably began attending Stratford Grammar School with other boys of his social class. Students went to school year-round attending school for nine hours a day. The teachers were harsh disciplinarians. Although Shakespeare spent many hours in school, his childhood was probably a fascinating one. Stratford was a lively town and was known for holding pageants and many popular performances during the holidays. Numerous large trade fairs were also held during the year. Stratford was an exciting place to live. Stratford also had fields and woods surrounding it, giving William the opportunity to hunt and trap small game. The River Avon which ran through the city also allowed him to fish. Shakespeare's poems and plays show his love of nature and rural life which reflects his childhood. On 28 November 1582 Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway of the nearby village of Shottery. She was twenty-six and he was only eighteen at the time. They had three children. Susana was their first and then they had twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, son of Shakespeare, died in 1596. In 1607 his daughter Susana married. Shakespeare's other daughter, Judith, married in 1616. In London, Shakespeare's career took off. It is believed that he may have come to prominence in London theatrical life in 1592. By that time, he had joined one of the city's repertory theater companies. These companies were made up of a permanent cast of actors who presented different shows week after week. The companies were commercial organizations that depended on admission from their audiences. Scholars know that Shakespeare belonged to one of London's most popular acting troupes called The Lord Chamberlain's Men. Shakespeare was a prominent member of the group from 1594 for the remainder of his career. By 1594 at least six Shakespeare plays had been produced. During Shakespeare's lifetime, there were two monarchs who ruled England. They were Henry the eighth and Elizabeth the first. Both were impressed by Shakespeare who made his name known. There is evidence that he was a member of a traveling theater group and a schoolteacher. In 1594 he became an actor and playwright for the Lord Chamberlain's Men. In 1599 he became part owner of the prosperous Globe Theatre. He was also part owner of the Blackfriars Theater from 1609. Shakespeare retired to Stratford in 1613 where he wrote many of his excellent plays. There are many reasons why William Shakespeare is so famous. He is generally considered both the greatest playwright the world has ever known and the best poet to write in the English language. Many reasons can be given for the enormous".