Claim: William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the world's pre-eminent playwright.
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.