Stephen Hawking

British theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author (1942–2018)
Person human Q17714
Stephen Hawking
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Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18], and died on March 14, 2018, in Cambridge [5][19][20][6][4][7][8][10][11][12][21][16][17][18]. A citizen of the United Kingdom [18], he was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, mathematician, pedagogue, and science writer [18][22][23]. His native language was English , and his parents were Frank Hawking and Isobel Eileen Hawking [24][24].

Hawking was married to Jane Hawking from 1965 to 1991 and to Elaine Mason from 1995 to 2006 [25]. He had three children: Lucy Hawking, Robert Hawking, and Timothy Hawking [18]. His education included University College, Oxford; Trinity Hall; St Albans School; and the University of Cambridge [26][27]. He worked at Gonville and Caius College, the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the University of Cambridge [28][29][30][31]. His fields of study included general relativity, quantum gravity, theoretical physics, and cosmology [23]. Hawking identified with atheism [32][33] and was influenced by figures such as Dikran Tahta, Paul Dirac, Bertrand Russell, Karl Popper, Andrei Linde, and Yakov Zeldovich [34].

He received numerous awards, including the Albert Einstein Medal, Wolf Prize in Physics, Copley Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. His notable works include *A Brief History of Time*, *Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays*, *The Universe in a Nutshell*, and *On the Shoulders of Giants* [34][45]. Hawking served as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics from 1979 to 2009 [30][31] and was a member of the Royal Society of Arts, Pontifical Academy of Sciences, American Philosophical Society, and National Academy of Sciences [46][42][47][48]. His death was caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , and he was buried at Westminster Abbey [49].

Stephen Hawking

Summary

Stephen Hawking is a human[1]. Born in Oxford[2], he… he passed away in Cambridge[3]. He worked as a theoretical physicist[4], cosmologist[5], astrophysicist[6], mathematician[7], and pedagogue[8]. He ranks in the top 0.2% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (44,271 views/month, #1,964 of 1,000,298).[9]

Key Facts

  • Born in Oxford[2], Stephen Hawking…
  • Born in United Kingdom[10], Stephen Hawking…
  • Stephen Hawking passed away in Cambridge[3].
  • Burial took place at Westminster Abbey[11].
  • Stephen Hawking's father was Frank Hawking[12].
  • Stephen Hawking's mother was Isobel Eileen Hawking[13].
  • Among Stephen Hawking's spouses was Jane Hawking[14].
  • Stephen Hawking was married to Elaine Mason[15].
  • A child of Stephen Hawking was Lucy Hawking[16].
  • A child of Stephen Hawking was Robert Hawking[17].
  • A child of Stephen Hawking was Timothy Hawking[18].
  • Stephen Hawking held citizenship in United Kingdom[19].
  • English was Stephen Hawking's native language[20].
  • Stephen Hawking's professions included theoretical physicist[4].
  • Stephen Hawking worked as a cosmologist[5].
  • Stephen Hawking worked as an astrophysicist[6].
  • Stephen Hawking worked as a mathematician[7].
  • Stephen Hawking's professions included pedagogue[8].
  • Stephen Hawking's professions included science writer[21].
  • Stephen Hawking's field of work was general relativity[22].
  • Stephen Hawking's field of work was quantum gravity[23].
  • Stephen Hawking's field of work was theoretical physics[24].
  • Stephen Hawking's field of work was cosmology[25].
  • Stephen Hawking's field of work was applied mathematics[26].
  • Stephen Hawking's field of work was universe[27].

Product Details

The following facts are restated verbatim from public-domain and CC0 open-data sources — every line is independently verifiable against the named source's catalog.

MusicBrainz — CC0 open music encyclopedia

  • Type: Person[28]

  • Country: GB[29]

  • Began / founded: 1942-01-08[30]

  • Ended / dissolved: 2018-03-14[31]

  • Community tags: british, english, has german audiobooks, physicist, uk[32]

  • MusicBrainz ID: 6521b32f-3efb-4662-a0fa-c51f5897581b[33]

Body

Origins and Family

Recorded place of birth include Oxford[2], a county town[34], in United Kingdom[35], founded in 1000[36] and United Kingdom[10], a sovereign state[37], in United Kingdom[38], founded in 1927[39]. Stephen Hawking's father was Frank Hawking[12]. His mother was Isobel Eileen Hawking[13]. English was his native language[20].

Education

Educated at University College, Oxford[40], a college of the University of Oxford[41], in United Kingdom[42], founded in 1249[43], headquartered in Oxford[44]; Trinity Hall[45], a university building[46], in United Kingdom[47], founded in 1350[48], headquartered in Cambridge[49]; St Albans School[50], an independent school[51], in United Kingdom[52], founded in 1980[53]; University of Cambridge[54], a collegiate university[55], in United Kingdom[56], founded in 1209[57], headquartered in Cambridge[58]; St Albans High School for Girls[59], an independent school[60], in United Kingdom[61], founded in 1889[62]; and Byron House School[63], an independent school[64], in United Kingdom[65], founded in 1897[66].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include theoretical physicist[4], cosmologist[5], astrophysicist[6], mathematician[7], pedagogue[8], and science writer[21]. Fields of work include general relativity[22], a scientific theory[67], founded in 1916[68]; quantum gravity[23], a branch of physics[69]; theoretical physics[24], a branch of physics[70]; cosmology[25], a branch of astronomy[71]; applied mathematics[26], an academic discipline[72]; and universe[27], an universe[73]. Employers include Gonville and Caius College[74], Faculty of Mathematics, University of Cambridge[75], Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics[76], University of Cambridge[77], and California Institute of Technology[78]. Stephen Hawking held the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics[79].

Recognition

Awards received include Albert Einstein Medal[80], Wolf Prize in Physics[81], Copley Medal[82], Presidential Medal of Freedom[83], Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics[84], and Companion of Honour[85].

Personal Life

Spouses include Jane Hawking[14], an autobiographer[86], b. 1944[87], of United Kingdom[88], specialised in autobiography[89] and Elaine Mason[15]. Children include Lucy Hawking[16], a journalist[90], b. 1970[91], of United Kingdom[92], specialised in journalism[93]; Robert Hawking[17]; and Timothy Hawking[18].

Death and Burial

Stephen Hawking died in Cambridge[3]. Burial took place at Westminster Abbey[11].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Stephen Hawking include Hawking radiation[94], Penrose–Hawking singularity theorems[95], Hartle–Hawking state[96], and 7672 Hawking[97].

Why It Matters

Stephen Hawking ranks in the top 0.2% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (44,271 views/month, #1,964 of 1,000,298).[9] He has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[98] He is known by 62 alternative names across languages and contexts.[99]

He is credited with the discovery of chronology protection conjecture[100], a hypothesis[101]. Works attributed to him include A Brief History of Time[102], a literary work[103]; The Grand Design[104], a written work[105]; Brief Answers to the Big Questions[106], a literary work[107]; George's Secret Key to the Universe[108], a written work[109], written by Lucy Hawking[110]; The Universe in a Nutshell[111], a written work[112]; and A Briefer History of Time[113], a written work[114]. Entities named for him include Hawking radiation[94], Penrose–Hawking singularity theorems[95], Hartle–Hawking state[96], and 7672 Hawking[97].

His notable doctoral advisees include Bernard Carr[115], Don Page[116], Christophe Galfard[117], Thomas Hertog[118], Raphael Bousso[119], and Fay Dowker[120].

FAQs

Where was Stephen Hawking born?

Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford[2].

Where did Stephen Hawking die?

Stephen Hawking passed away in Cambridge[3].

Who were Stephen Hawking's parents?

Stephen Hawking's father was Frank Hawking[12]. Stephen Hawking's mother was Isobel Eileen Hawking[13].

Who was Stephen Hawking married to?

Stephen Hawking's spouses include Jane Hawking[14] and Elaine Mason[15].

What did Stephen Hawking do for work?

Stephen Hawking worked as theoretical physicist[4], cosmologist[5], astrophysicist[6], mathematician[7], and pedagogue[8].

Where did Stephen Hawking go to school?

Stephen Hawking was educated at University College, Oxford[40], Trinity Hall[45], St Albans School[50], and University of Cambridge[54].

What awards did Stephen Hawking receive?

Honors received include Albert Einstein Medal[80], Wolf Prize in Physics[81], Copley Medal[82], and Presidential Medal of Freedom[83].

What did Stephen Hawking discover?

Stephen Hawking is credited as discoverer of chronology protection conjecture[100].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

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Product details (FDA / USDA / NHTSA public-domain catalog data)

  1. [28] . MusicBrainz (MetaBrainz Foundation). musicbrainz.org.
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Class ancestry

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Aggregate / graph-position facts

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  2. [98] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [99] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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  1. 26d ago · ZI Jony · 2026-05-02 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Local thumb /static/img/stephen-hawking.jpg
    Semion author id (archived) 16946002
    "/* wbremoveclaims-remove:1| */ [[Property:P7671]]: 16946002, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/257208|batch #257208]]"
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