16. William Shakespeare, born April 23, 1564, under the sign of Taurus
The true date of William Shakespeare‘s birth is unknown. The first appearance he makes in the historical record is on April 26, 1564, when he was baptized in Stratford-on-Avon. April 23 is traditionally observed as his birthday; it was actually the day he died in 1616. Either date makes the Bard a Taurus, which is said to imbue the qualities of wit, self-indulgence, and pragmatism. They can be both narrow-minded and stubborn. What Shakespeare thought about astrology is unknown, but his plays are littered with astrological references. It was Shakespeare who wrote, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves, that we are underlings”, in his play Julius Caesar.
Nearly all that is known about Shakespeare’s personality is based on speculation derived from his writings. During his lifetime he was, in essence, a journeyman writer and actor. He spent most of his active career splitting his time between his home in Stratford and the city of London. The number of his investments, records of which survive, indicates that he was a wealthy man. He died at the age of 52; the vicar of Stratford recorded his death was the result of a heavy drinking binge. The wealth he achieved is a testament to pragmatism. His wit is readily evident in his plays, both tragedies and comedies. And what is a drinking binge besides an example of self-indulgence?