William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He married Anne Hathaway and had three children, though his son Hamnet died young. Around 1587, Shakespeare left Stratford for London to pursue a career in theatre. Some of his most famous works include Romeo and Juliet, written in the 1590s, and Hamlet, written around 1600. Considered by many to be his masterpiece, Hamlet delved deeply into themes of internal struggle and alienation. Shakespeare died in 1616 in Stratford, leaving behind an immense body of work that still influences literature and culture today.