How old was Shakespeare when he died?

William Shakespeare was 52 years old when he died. He was baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon on 26 April 1564 and died there on 23 April 1616, meaning the traditional dates place his death just three days before his 52nd birthday.

The exact day of his birth is not recorded, so biographies usually give 23 April 1564 as an inferred date rather than a documented one. The inference comes from the baptismal record and the period’s common practice of baptising infants within a few days of birth. Using those traditional dates, Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616 and died at age 52.

Another source of confusion is the difference between baptismal and birth dates. Shakespeare’s baptism is certain, but his birth date is not. He also died according to the English calendar then in use; England did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. His death occurred in Stratford after a career that included plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear.