Stephen Hawking Biography

Stephen Hawking is a theoretical physicist who is known for having significant contributions in physics especially in the field of cosmology and on quantum gravity.

Where and When was Stephen Hawking born

Stephen William Hawking was born in Oxford, England on the 8th of January 1942. His father, Dr. Frank Hawking, was a renowned researcher in tropical medicine and biology. His mother, Isobel Hawking, moved from London to Oxford with Frank Hawking while she was still pregnant with Stephen when London was attacked during the World War II. Stephen Hawking was the first child to his parents and his family moved back to London when he was born.

Stephen Hawking at School and University

Stephen Hawking began his schooling at the St. Alban’s High School for Girls in 1950 when he was still 8 years old. During his time, boys could attend at girl’s schools until they were 10 years old. When he was 11 years old, he was transferred to the St. Alban’s School. His father wanted him to study medicine when he entered the University of Oxford in 1959 as a scholar but he was more interested to take up mathematics. The University of Oxford did not offer mathematics so he took up physics with his degree in natural sciences. After studying for three years, he was awarded with a first class honors in his degree. He got his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Oxford in 1962 and then studied in Cambridge to study theoretical astronomy and cosmology.

Stephen Hawking develops  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

In 1963, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed to have ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis which made him void of neuromuscular control and he was confined to a wheelchair. The doctors told him that he cannot live with enough time to complete his doctorate degree because of his incurable disease. It was only when he met the woman that he would want to marry that his research progressed and he was able to go through his doctorate degree when his illness slowed down. In 1966, he finished his doctorate degree.

Stephen Hawking, Black Holes and the Singularity Theorem

It was in 1970 when Stephen Hawking discovered that black holes emit radiation and combined the theory of general relativity to the quantum theory which is called as the singularity theorem.

Stephen Hawking became a Research Fellow at the Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge where he later became a Professorial Fellow. He became a part of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics in Cambridge in 1973 and became a professor of gravitational physics in 1977. In 1979, he became a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974. He was a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. He had 12 honorary degrees. In 1989, he became a Companion of Honour. In 1988, he published a book titled “ A Brief History of Time” which describes his theories of the universe and it became a best seller.

Stephen Hawking was married to Jane Wilde in 1965 and they had three children. He was divorced to Jane Wilde in 1991 and he was married to Elaine Mason in 1995. He was divorced again to Elaine Mason in 2006.

Stephen Hawking is a theoretical physicist who is known for having significant contributions in physics especially in the field of cosmology and on quantum gravity. 

Stephen William Hawking was born in Oxford, England on the 8th of January 1942. His father, Dr. Frank Hawking, was a renowned researcher in tropical medicine and biology. His mother, Isobel Hawking, moved from London to Oxford with Frank Hawking while she was still pregnant with Stephen when London was attacked during the World War II. Stephen Hawking was the first child to his parents and his family moved back to London when he was born. 

Stephen Hawking began his schooling at the St. Alban’s High School for Girls in 1950 when he was still 8 years old. During his time, boys could attend at girl’s schools until they were 10 years old. When he was 11 years old, he was transferred to the St. Alban’s School. His father wanted him to study medicine when he entered the University of Oxford in 1959 as a scholar but he was more interested to take up mathematics. The University of Oxford did not offer mathematics so he took up physics with his degree in natural sciences. After studying for three years, he was awarded with a first class honors in his degree. He got his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Oxford in 1962 and then studied in Cambridge to study theoretical astronomy and cosmology. 

In 1963, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed to have ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis which made him void of neuromuscular control and he was confined to a wheelchair. The doctors told him that he cannot live with enough time to complete his doctorate degree because of his incurable disease. It was only when he met the woman that he would want to marry that his research progressed and he was able to go through his doctorate degree when his illness slowed down. In 1966, he finished his doctorate degree. 

It was in 1970 when Stephen Hawking discovered that black holes emit radiation and combined the theory of general relativity to the quantum theory which is called as the singularity theorem. 

Stephen Hawking became a Research Fellow at the Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge where he later became a Professorial Fellow. He became a part of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics in Cambridge in 1973 and became a professor of gravitational physics in 1977. In 1979, he became a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974. He was a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. He had 12 honorary degrees. In 1989, he became a Companion of Honour. In 1988, he published a book titled “ A Brief History of Time” which describes his theories of the universe and it became a best seller. 

Stephen Hawking was married to Jane Wilde in 1965 and they had three children. He was divorced to Jane Wilde in 1991 and he was married to Elaine Mason in 1995. He was divorced again to Elaine Mason in 2006.