Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking is a well-known physicist and cosmologist and best selling author. He spent most of his career as a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and became internationally famous for his book, A Brief History of Time, in which he broke down his theories on quantum physics and cosmology in such a way that could be understood by all levels of society.


Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford, England. At the time, London was under attack from the German Luftwaffe during World War II and the Hawking home in North London was not safe for the family. After the birth of Hawking, his parents, Frank Hawking, a research biologist, and Isobel moved back to London to raise their family. In 1950, at the age of 8, Hawking moved with his family to Hertfordshire where he began studying at the St Alban's High School for Girls until 1953. When Hawking turned 11, he was transferred to the St. Albans School until his graduation.


Hawking preferred studying mathematics but was forced to study physics instead when he enrolled at University College at Oxford since mathematics was not considered a focus. Hawking rarely studied which resulted in some of his professors questioning his academic performance. They realized quickly, however, that his intellect and cleverness were far superior than his peers and his professors passed him with first honors.


Stephen Hawking graduated with a B.A. in 1962 from Oxford University. He hoped to continue on and study astronomy but, after discovering that Oxford was only equipped to study sunspots, Hawking transferred to Trinity Hall in Cambridge where he studied cosmology and theoretical astronomy. It was soon after this transfer that Hawking began showing symptoms of the motor neuron disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease. After learning of his illness, Hawking did not work hard towards his Ph.D., choosing to see his illness as an end rather than an obstacle. It was only after he met and married Jane Wilde in 1965 that Hawking returned to complete his degree at Cambridge. He became a Research Fellow and later a Professor Fellow at Gonville and Caius College.


Among Stephen Hawking's accomplishments and awards are:
Member of the Board of Sponsors of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1974
Created as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1982
Was granted the position of Companion of Honour in 1989
the 1988 Wolf Prize in Physics


Hawking began focusing most of his energy on studying Einstein's general theory of relativity and the physics behind black holes. His studies eventually led to proving his first of many singularity theorems. This first one was proven in 1970 and Hawking continued to work with colleagues studying theories and physic calculations that helped to explain more about the universe.


Hawking became so enthusiastic about his studies that he wanted to be able to share them with the rest of the world. As a result, he put together a book that helped explain his theories of the universe in a way that most people could understand. This book, A Brief History of Time, was published in 1988 by Hawking and some friends and quickly became a best-seller. He followed it with The Universe in a Nutshell in 2001, and A Briefer History of Time in 2005.


Although Hawking is confined to a wheelchair and has lost most of his motor skills, he continues to research, teach and give lectures around the world. He even took part in a zero-gravity experience courtesy of NASA in 2007.


Stephen Hawking and his first wife separated and divorced in 1991. They had three children prior to their divorce. He later married a woman by the name of Elaine Mason, the former wife of the man who designed Hawking's talking computer, but they, too, divorced in 2006.