Claim: William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet.
Evidence: William Shakespeare -LRB- -LSB- ˈʃeɪkspɪə -RSB- 26 April 1564 -LRB- baptised -RRB- -- 23 April 1616 -RRB- was an English : poet , : playwright , and actor , widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world 's pre-eminent dramatist.
He is often called England 's national poet , and the `` Bard of Avon ''.
His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
In his last phase , he wrote tragicomedies , also known as romances , and collaborated with other playwrights.