Author. He is remembered as a renowned Spanish author, who wrote in the 17th century his timeless tale, "Don Quixote." From his first novel, "La Galatea," to his final production "Los Trabajos de Persiles y Segismunda" in 1617, Cervantes earned the respect and admiration of the world. The fourth of 7 children, he was born into a poor family but from a very early age, he showed his love for adventure and literature, yet receiving little formal education. His father was a barber-surgeon. His family was always roaming, searching of better life-style. He led the life of a nomad, which was to have an acute influence in his immortal 1605 novel "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha". This 52-chapter novel has been translated in numerous languages and "Don Quixote, Part Two" was a sequel published ten years after the original novel. In 1568 he traveled to Italy where he learned Italian and the Italian style of writing. In 1570, Cervantes joined the Spanish Navy Marines, which was stationed in Italy. On October 7, 1571, he fought on the side of the Christians against the Turks in the famous Battle of Lepanto. The Holy League under the Roman Catholic Pope led a fleet in this battle to conquer the navy of the Ottoman Empire, the controlling force in the Mediterranean Sea. He and his brother Rodrigo served on aboard the ship "La Marquesa." In this battle he was wounded twice in the chest and seriously in the left hand, which was maimed for life. After being a patient in the hospital for six months, he knew that he had to leave the military, yet fought, although not fully recovered from injuries, in at least two more battles. Since he was physically unable to continue to serve the military, he pursued writing. He spent much time in prison for various reasons, and wrote while in prison. On the way from Italy to Spain, he was captured by pirates, spending 5 years and one month in jail, from 1575 to 1580, in North Africa working as a slave since his family could not pay a ransom of 500 escudos de oro or $5. From this experience, several of the plots in his writing are set in Algiers. On December 12, 1584, he married a teenage girl, Catalina de Palacios y Salazar y Vosmediano, who was 19 years his junior. From another relationship, he had a daughter born earlier in 1584. He became ill, probably from diabetes and dying. Since he died on April 22nd and William Shakespeare on April 23rd, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has made April 23rd the International Day of the Book. His grave was lost during the renovation of the convent in the late 17th Century, when his remains were relocated to a new building, yet in 2015, forensic scientists located his and other members of his family remains. His crypt was opened to the public for the first time in centuries to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Cervantes' death in 2016. Bronze statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are located at the Plaza de España in Madrid. "Don Quixote" is considered as the first classic modern romantic and satirical novel. "Man of La Mancha," an adaption of his novel, was a successful Broadway musical, debuting November 22, 1965 and closing June 26, 1971. In 1972 a film version was produced.