William Shakespeare Facts for Kids

A Picture of William Shakespeare
  • Name: William Shakespeare
  • Profession: Actor, Playwright and Poet
  • Born: 1564 (Actual date not known)
  • Died: April 23rd, 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
  • Resting Place: Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
  • Legacy: Famous for his plays, sonnets and poems

25 William Shakespeare Facts for Kids

  1. William Shakespeare was an actor, playwright and poet from England.
  2. William Shakespeare is most famous for his plays, like Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet.
  3. The actual birthdate of William Shakespeare isn’t known, records prove he was baptized on April 26th, 1564. His birthday is traditional celebrated on Saint George’s Day (April 23rd).
  4. William Shakespeare was the son of English businessman John Shakespeare and Mary Shakespeare.
  5. William Shakespeare was one of eight children by John and Mary Shakespeare.
  6. William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in November 1582.
  7. William and Anne Shakespeare had three children, one boy (Hamnet) and two girls (Susanna and Judith).
  8. William Shakespeare died at the age of 23 on April 23rd, 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.
  9. Shakespeare wrote at least 39 plays during his lifetime.
  10. The most popular play written by Shakespeare is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
  11. Shakespeare produced 139 sonnets during his lifetime.
  12. The most popular sonnet produced by Shakespeare is either Sonnet 106 or Sonnet 138.
  13. Shakespeare created two long narrative poems during his lifetime.
  14. Between 1580 and 1590, Shakespeare wrote one his earliest plays titled “The Taming of the Shrew”.
  15. In 1583, Shakespeare’s first daughter Susanna Shakespeare is born. Many speculate that William and Anne Shakespeare got married because Anne was pregnant with Susanna before they were married.
  16. In 1583, Shakespeare’s twins Hamnet and Judith are born.
  17. In 1591, Shakespeare wrote the play “Henry VI Part II”. This is the first play that Shakespeare wrote based on history.
  18. Between 1594 and 1596, Shakespeare wrote the play title “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. This is Shakespeare’s most reproduced play (live theater) in modern history.
  19. Between 1595 and 1596, Shakespeare wrote the famous play “Romeo and Juliet”.
  20. In 1596, Shakespeare’s 11 year old son Hamnet dies of unknown causes.
  21. Between 1599 and 1601, Shakespeare wrote the famous play “Hamlet”.
  22. In 1607, Shakespeare’s oldest daughter Susanna marries English physician John Hall.
  23. Between 1613 and 1614, Shakespeare wrote his last play titled “The Two Noble Kinsmen”.
  24. In 1616, Shakespeare’s youngest daughter Judith marries Thomas Quiney.
  25. When Shakespeare died, it was less than a month after he updated his will and testament. Most of Shakespeare’s estate was left to his oldest daughter Susanna and her first born son.

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