It might have been a few centuries since William Shakespeare passed away and yet, he remains perhaps the most famous playwright of all time. He has many plays and poems to his name–from great plays such as Macbeth, Rome, and Juliet, and Juliet Caesar to poems like Venus and Adonis, and The Rape Of Lucrece, his legacy still lives on in his written work today.

Shakespeare is so celebrated that he is often called England’s National Poet. His literary contributions include 39 plays and 154 sonnets and so it’s a small wonder that quotes credited to various characters in history are simply derived from Shakespeare’s plays. Even though many people know of his written works, not as many of us know about Shakespeare’s life. Well, that is about to change.

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Shakespeare’s Exact Birth Date is Unknown

Nobody can claim to know Shakespeare’s birth date with certainty and so, the exact date of England’s national poet is still unknown. What is agreed upon is that William Shakespeare was born in April of 1964. However, although the date remains a mystery, it is known that he was baptized on April 26th, which has led historians to believe that he must have been born shortly before this date. There are also several other theories as to his birthday, birthplace, and his written work, with some critics even suggesting that the works of others have been credited to Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s Wife was Older Than Him

When he was just eighteen years old, Shakes[eare married Anne Hathaway who was eight years his senior. Their marriage proceedings were carried out quite quickly since Anne was already three months pregnant during this time. Despite their ‘age difference’ the two made it work for more than three decades until Shakespeare’s death in 1616.

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Shakespeare’s Children were Illiterate

It might seem shocking to most but one of the most literate minds in human history fathered kids who were all illiterate. Their names were Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet, who sadly passed away at the young age of eleven.

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Shakespeare Influenced The English Language More Than Any Other Person

Having invented words like “fashionable” and phrases like “one fell swoop,” Shakespeare has arguably contributed more to the English language more than any author. He is said to have created thousands of words, filling up gaps that would otherwise leave emotions, expressions, and subtleties poorly expressed in the English language. The Oxford dictionary officially credits him with some three thousand words.