The first edition of the King James Bible was published some time in 1611, 400 years ago this year. While it was not the first translation of the whole Bible into English (that was the Lollard Bible of the 14th century), nor the first printed translation of the whole Bible into English (that was Coverdale's Bible), or even the first translation of the whole Bible into English from the original languages (that was the Geneva Bible), it has certainly been the most influential English Bible, as well as the most often printed.
The tranlsators were a mixed body of men, mostly accomplished scholars. Seven of them ended their lives as Bishops in the Church of England, and only one of them was not an Anglican clergyman. They were well-versed in Latin, and the New Testament translators were well-versed in Greek, while the Old Testament translators included men who were world experts in Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic.
Their task was not to create a new translation, but to improve the existing standard English text, the Bishops' Bible. Drawing from existing English translations and comparing Latin and German translations, they created a book that is beloved by many today, and that defined the vocabulary of English Christianity. 400 years of the King James Bible is an anniversary worth celebrating, for whether we think it or not, we are all receiving the benefits of the legacy of the King James.
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