One of the greatest playwrights in the world, William Shakespeare passed away at the age of 52 in the town of his birth on April 23, 1616. He divided his time between the two locations as he worked. His success in London brought him considerable wealth and accolades and bought the largest house in his native town Stratford-upon-Avon in 1597 and called it New Place. Shakespeare's most famous tragedies such as 'King Lear' and 'Macbeth' and great romances such as 'The Winter’s Tale' and 'The Tempest' were written during his time at the company. Under the patronage of King James I, the company's name changed to 'The King's Men' from 1603.

He wrote an average of two plays a year for them for 20 years as their regular dramatist. It was this company that surrounded his life and work. He was also the founding member of The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a company of actors. Shakespeare's career took off in London and his first printed works were two long poems - 'Venus and Adonis' (1593) and 'The Rape of Lucrece' (1594). At 18, William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, a 26-year-old lady and went on to have three children with her.

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