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Arts / Early modern

William Shakespeare

1564 — 1616威廉·莎士比亚

English playwright and poet (1564–1616)

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Born1564
BirthplaceStratford-upon-Avon
Fieldsplaywright, poet, stage actor
01 / A LIFE IN CONTEXT

The story, in brief.

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" or simply "the Bard". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, 3 long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.

Introduction from Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full biography ↗

02 / THROUGH THE YEARS

A life in milestones.

Selected records from Wikidata. Ages are approximate; “c.” marks uncertain dates. This is a starting point for exploration, not a complete life history.

This edition has life dates for William Shakespeare; more sourced milestones are still to be added.

  1. 1564
    Life

    Born in Stratford-upon-Avon

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  2. 1616~ age 52

Behind this profile

Sources retrieved 2026-11-01. Dates and milestones: Wikidata contributors, CC0 ↗. Biographical introduction: Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0. Ancient dates and traditional biographies may be disputed; consult the linked records.

Portrait: Attributed to John Taylor · Public domain · Original and attribution ↗. Display cropped and desaturated.