April 23 1616 – William Shakespeare Dies in Stratford-upon-Avon
*Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons Throughout human history, a small number of creative individuals have left a mark on the world that will last forever — arguably none more than William Shakespeare. After a prolific career writing plays and poems, the “Bard of Avon” died on April 23, 1616 at the age of 52. In the five centuries since he took London by storm, his influence on literature, the theater and even the English language continues to impress. The third of eight children born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, very little is known of the world-renowned playwright’s youth in Stratford-upon-Avon — even his birthday is a mystery. What can be said for certain is he was baptized on April 26, 1564 at a small church in the tiny town in west-central England. It is likely he attended King’s New School for a standard English education focused on Latin authors like Cicero, Ovid and Virgil before his marriage to Anne Hathaway near the end of November 1582 at the age of 18. For the next decade, until his name began appearing in London theater circles, historians are left to speculate as to his career (possibly a teacher) and reasons for moving to the capital of England (allegedly fleeing a charge of deer poaching).