William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford upon Avon. His parents were John and Mary Shakespeare. John and Mary had eight children together. William's siblings were Joan, Margret, Gilbert, Joan (there were two Joan's), Anne, Richard, and Edmund. Joan (the second Joan) was the only sibling that outlived William. In 1582, William married Anne Hathaway. William and Anne had three children together. The children's names were Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet. Unfortunately, Hamnet died at age eleven. William also had four grandchildren, but they all died before having their own children. So, there are no direct descendants of William. However, people can claim being a descendant through William's sister, Joan. William is known for his famous plays and sonnets. Also, William was the leading playwright in London, England. In 1616, William Shakespeare died. However, William's legacy lives on and the world still reads his work today.

• Fun Fact: William helped build the Globe Theater!