Anton Chekhov was born on January 29, 1860, in Taganrog, Russia. Chekhov completed medical school in Moscow and kept a medical practice throughout his life, but is best known for his writing. Through stories such as The Steppe, The Duel, and The Lady with the Dog, and plays such as The Seagull and Uncle Vanya, the prolific writer emphasized the depths of human nature, the hidden significance of everyday events, and the fine line between comedy and tragedy. Chekhov died of tuberculosis on July 15, 1904, in Germany.