Stephen Hawking transformed modern cosmology. His work on black holes, the nature of space-time, and the origins of the universe made him one of the most recognisable scientists of the 20th and early 21st centuries. From his desk at Cambridge, he rewrote the rules of theoretical physics while living with a disease that slowly took away his ability to move and speak.
Born in 1942, Hawking was curious, determined, and fiercely intelligent. He turned a devastating diagnosis into a decades-long career that produced landmark discoveries, bestselling books, and a legacy that reaches far beyond academic circles.
Who Was Stephen Hawking? A Brief Biography
Stephen William Hawking
8 Jan 1942 – 14 Mar 2018
Hawking radiation, black hole theory, A Brief History of Time
Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (Cambridge), Presidential Medal of Freedom, BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award
Stephen William Hawking was born in Oxford, England, on 8 January 1942. His family moved to St Albans in 1959, where he attended St Albans School before beginning his undergraduate studies at University College, Oxford. He earned a degree in physics in 1962 and moved to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, for doctoral research.
- Stephen Hawking defied a 2-year ALS prognosis to live 55 more years, becoming one of history’s most celebrated scientists.
- His book A Brief History of Time spent 237 weeks on the Sunday Times bestseller list and sold over 10 million copies.
- Hawking’s work on black hole radiation (1974) was a landmark unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity.
- Despite his fame, Hawking never won a Nobel Prize — the empirical evidence for Hawking radiation remains indirect.
- The 2014 film The Theory of Everything starring Eddie Redmayne won the Oscar for Best Actor and reignited public interest in his life.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Stephen William Hawking |
| Born | 8 January 1942, Oxford, England |
| Died | 14 March 2018, Cambridge, England |
| Age at Death | 76 |
| Education | University College, Oxford (BA); Trinity Hall, Cambridge (PhD) |
| Key Position | Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Cambridge (1979–2009) |
| Known For | Hawking radiation, singularity theorems, A Brief History of Time |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Wilde (1965–1995, divorced), Elaine Mason (1995–2006, divorced) |
| Children | Robert, Lucy, Timothy |
| Major Awards | Adams Prize (1966), CBE (1982), Companion of Honour (1989), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009) |
| Cause of Death | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – long-term complication |
What Disease Did Stephen Hawking Have? Understanding ALS
Diagnosis at Age 21
While he was a student at Cambridge, Hawking began experiencing clumsiness and muscle weakness. Doctors diagnosed him with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the early 1960s. Biography.com reports that he was diagnosed at age 21. The disease is an incurable, progressively disabling neuromuscular disorder. Doctors gave him roughly two years to live.
Living Decades Beyond the Prognosis
Hawking defied expectations. He continued working, moving from a cane to a wheelchair as his muscles deteriorated. By 1985, after a severe bout of pneumonia, he lost the ability to speak entirely. A computer-based voice synthesizer became his primary means of communication. He used a single cheek muscle to operate the system, selecting words and sentences on a screen.
After losing his natural voice in 1985, Hawking used a system developed by Intel. A sensor detected movement in his cheek muscle, allowing him to scan and select text. This synthesizer, with its distinctive American-accented voice, became inseparable from his public identity.
He lived with ALS for 55 years. The disease did not prevent him from publishing groundbreaking papers, travelling the world, or raising a family. His persistence turned him into a global symbol of resilience and ability.
What Did Stephen Hawking Discover? His Scientific Legacy
Hawking Radiation
In 1974, Hawking proposed that black holes are not entirely black. Quantum effects near the event horizon cause particles to be emitted, meaning black holes lose mass and eventually evaporate. This prediction, known as Hawking radiation, was a major step toward unifying general relativity with quantum mechanics. The idea is widely accepted theoretically but has not yet been directly observed.
Singularity Theorems and the No-Boundary Proposal
Earlier in his career, Hawking collaborated with Roger Penrose on singularity theorems, proving that the universe began as a singularity — a point of infinite density. Later, with James Hartle, he proposed the no-boundary proposal, a model in which the universe has no beginning in time. Both ideas reshaped cosmology.
Many assume Hawking won a Nobel Prize. He did not. The Nobel committee typically requires experimental confirmation for theoretical discoveries, and Hawking radiation has not yet been observed directly. His influence, however, remains enormous across multiple fields of physics.
Did He Create Any Inventions?
The term “invention” is often confused with “discovery” in Hawking’s context. He did not file patents or build physical devices. His inventions were theoretical: the mathematical frameworks describing black hole behaviour, the information paradox, and the early universe. These ideas have inspired generations of physicists but cannot be classified as inventions in the traditional sense.
Who Was Stephen Hawking’s Wife? A Look at His Family Life
Jane Wilde
Hawking met Jane Wilde at a party in 1963, shortly after his ALS diagnosis. They married in 1965, the same year he completed his PhD. Jane supported him through the early years of his illness and during the rise of his career. Their relationship was depicted in the 2014 film The Theory of Everything, which was based on her memoir. They had three children: Robert (born 1970), Lucy (born 1970), and Timothy (born 1979). The couple divorced in 1995.
Elaine Mason
Hawking married Elaine Mason, one of his nurses, in 1995. The marriage was less public and ended in divorce in 2006. Sources from the time reported tension within the household, but Hawking did not discuss the details publicly.
His Children and Collaboration with Lucy
Lucy Hawking, his daughter, co-wrote a series of children’s books with him, including the George’s Secret Key series. These books aimed to introduce young readers to cosmology in an accessible, engaging way.
What Books Did Stephen Hawking Write?
A Brief History of Time (1988)
This is his most famous work. The book explains concepts like black holes, the Big Bang, and the nature of time without complex mathematics. It became an international bestseller, spending 237 weeks on the Sunday Times list. The book made Hawking a household name.
Other Major Works
- The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time (1973), with G. F. R. Ellis — a technical text for specialists.
- The Universe in a Nutshell (2001) — a follow-up to A Brief History of Time, with more illustrations and updated ideas.
- A Briefer History of Time (2005) — a simplified version of the original.
- The Grand Design (2010), with Leonard Mlodinow — explores whether the universe required a creator.
- Black Holes and Baby Universes (1993) and My Brief History (2013) — autobiographical essays.
The Movie About His Life
The Theory of Everything (2014) stars Eddie Redmayne as Hawking and Felicity Jones as Jane Wilde. The film covers his early life, his relationship with Jane, and his scientific breakthroughs. Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal. The film brought Hawking’s story to a new generation and was praised for its sensitivity in depicting his disability.
How Did Stephen Hawking Die? Final Years and Legacy
Hawking died peacefully at his home in Cambridge on 14 March 2018. He was 76 years old. The cause of death was listed as complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His ashes were interred in Westminster Abbey, near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton and not far from Charles Darwin.
His funeral was private, attended by family, friends, and colleagues. A public memorial service was held later at Westminster Abbey, with his voice broadcast into space. The Stephen Hawking Foundation continues his work, funding research in cosmology and ALS.
Timeline: Key Milestones in Stephen Hawking’s Life
- 1942 – Born in Oxford, England, on 8 January.
- 1959 – Begins undergraduate studies at University College, Oxford.
- 1962 – Starts PhD at Trinity Hall, Cambridge; diagnosed with ALS at age 21.
- 1965 – Marries Jane Wilde; awarded PhD; begins research on black holes.
- 1970 – Birth of son Robert; collaborates with Roger Penrose on singularity theorems.
- 1974 – Postulates Hawking radiation; elected to the Royal Society at age 32.
- 1979 – Appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge.
- 1985 – Loses ability to speak; obtains computer-based voice synthesizer.
- 1988 – Publishes A Brief History of Time, an international bestseller.
- 1995 – Divorces Jane Wilde; marries Elaine Mason.
- 2006 – Divorces Elaine Mason; continues research and public speaking.
- 2009 – Retires as Lucasian Professor; remains Emeritus.
- 2014 – Biopic The Theory of Everything released.
- 2018 – Dies peacefully at his home in Cambridge on 14 March.
Certainty vs. Uncertainty: What We Know About Hawking’s Work
| Topic | Established Information | Remains Unclear |
|---|---|---|
| Hawking Radiation | Widely accepted theoretical prediction; supported by mathematical consistency and analog experiments. | Direct astronomical observation of Hawking radiation from black holes has not been confirmed. |
| Information Paradox | Hawking argued that black holes destroy information (1976); later conceded information might be preserved (2004). | The full resolution of the black hole information paradox remains an open problem in physics. |
| No-Boundary Proposal (with Hartle) | A theory of the universe’s origin without singularities; mathematically elegant. | Remains speculative; not testable with current technology. |
Analysis and Context: Hawking’s Enduring Impact
Hawking’s work bridged the gap between abstract theoretical physics and public imagination. He made complex ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. His life with ALS became a powerful narrative of human resilience, influencing disability awareness and assistive technology development. The Stephen Hawking Foundation continues to fund research in cosmology and ALS.
The film The Theory of Everything corrected some misconceptions about his relationship with Jane Wilde but also romanticised certain struggles. Despite this, Hawking’s scientific ideas remain central to ongoing research at institutions worldwide, including work on the black hole information paradox and tests of Hawking radiation using data from LIGO and the Event Horizon Telescope.
Sources and Quotations
However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.
Stephen Hawking (2011)
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
Stephen Hawking (1998)
Summary: Stephen Hawking’s Life in Brief
Stephen Hawking was a British theoretical physicist who reshaped our understanding of black holes, time, and the universe. Despite a devastating ALS diagnosis at age 21, he lived and worked for more than five decades, authoring bestsellers, mentoring students, and becoming one of the most recognisable scientific figures of his era. His legacy persists through his theories, his foundation, and the millions of people he inspired. For more on other influential figures, read our biography of Professor Alice Roberts – Her Life, Career, and Key Facts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stephen Hawking
Did Stephen Hawking win a Nobel Prize?
No. While his theoretical work on Hawking radiation is highly influential, it has not been directly observed, which is a prerequisite for the Nobel Prize in Physics.
How old was Stephen Hawking when he died?
He was 76 years old. He died on 14 March 2018.
How many children did Stephen Hawking have?
He had three children: Robert (born 1970), Lucy (born 1970), and Timothy (born 1979).
What is Hawking radiation in simple terms?
It is the theoretical emission of particles from black holes due to quantum effects near the event horizon, causing black holes to slowly lose mass and evaporate.
Was Stephen Hawking related to Stephen Fry?
No. They share a first name but are not related. Stephen Fry is a British actor, comedian, and writer; Stephen Hawking was a physicist.
What did Stephen Hawking study at university?
He studied physics at University College, Oxford, earning a BA in 1962, and completed a PhD in cosmology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 1966.
How did Stephen Hawking communicate after losing his voice?
He used a computer-based voice synthesizer operated by a sensor that detected movement in his cheek muscle.
What was Stephen Hawking’s net worth?
Exact figures vary by source, but his estate was estimated at around £20 million, largely from book sales and speaking engagements.
Where is Stephen Hawking buried?
His ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey in London, near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton.
What is the movie about Stephen Hawking called?
The film is titled The Theory of Everything (2014), starring Eddie Redmayne as Hawking.
Did Stephen Hawking have a disability?
Yes. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the early 1960s, which progressively paralysed his body.
What was Stephen Hawking’s most famous quote?
One of his most quoted lines is: “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”
For a broader look at influential British thinkers, see our profile of Owen Jones – Biography, Books, and Key Facts.
Related stories
Freya Bishop covers culture, lifestyle, society and human-interest reporting for UKBullet.uk.