Plato was born to an aristocratic family in Athens in about 428 BC( which I could not add it because Shelfari does not support BC period :-D ). His father Ariston was from a royal family and his mother Perictione was distantly related to Solon.
He was a disciple of Socrates. He takes the basis of his philosophy from him and also he was using
Socrates dialectical style of debate in almost all his works.
After the execution od Socrates he left Athens ib fear of his life and travelled to Italy,Sicily and Egypt.
In 387 BC he founded the Academy, the first Europian university, in Athens. There, he has tought to many student including his most prominent student Aristotle.
During his 80 years long life he wrote many precious works named Dialogues of Plato including his supreme philosophical achivement "The Republic".
Plato died in Athens in 348 or 347BC.