Cosmology and theoretical physics · United Kingdom · 1942–2018
Stephen Hawking Life & Career Timeline
Singularities, black-hole radiation and cosmology brought to a worldwide audience.
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19421953196419751986199720082018
SHStephen HawkingCosmology and theoretical physics · United Kingdom
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About Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking connected gravitation, quantum theory and the early universe while transforming public understanding of cosmology.
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Stephen Hawking biography
Stephen Hawking timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Oxford
Stephen William Hawking was born to Frank and Isobel Hawking during the Second World War.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukFamily moves to St Albans
A book-filled household encouraged curiosity, experiments and mechanical projects.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukBegins at University College
At seventeen Hawking studied physics, specialising in cosmology when particle physics was unavailable.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukGraduates from Oxford
He received a first-class degree and moved to Cambridge for doctoral research.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukDiagnosed with motor neurone disease
Doctors predicted a short life expectancy, but Hawking continued research as disability progressed.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukMarries Jane Wilde
Their marriage and family life accompanied the most difficult early years of his illness and career.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukCompletes PhD
His thesis examined the properties of expanding universes.
Source: www.repository.cam.ac.ukBlack-hole singularity theorem
Work with Roger Penrose connected gravitational collapse, singularities and the structure of spacetime.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukProposes primordial black holes
Hawking explored black holes that could have formed from density fluctuations in the early universe.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukHawking radiation
Quantum field calculations showed that black holes should emit thermal radiation and slowly lose mass.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukElected Fellow of the Royal Society
At thirty-two Hawking became one of the society’s youngest fellows.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukLucasian Professor
He took the chair once held by Isaac Newton and remained in the post for thirty years.
Connected: Isaac Newton
Source: www.cam.ac.ukTracheotomy and speech technology
After severe pneumonia, surgery removed his natural speech; assistive computing restored communication.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukA Brief History of Time published
The popular book brought cosmology, black holes and the arrow of time to a global readership.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukExperiences weightlessness
A Zero Gravity Corporation flight gave Hawking repeated periods of microgravity.
Source: www.nasa.govPresidential Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama awarded Hawking the United States’ highest civilian honour.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukBlack-hole information proposal
Hawking discussed how information might be encoded at a black hole’s boundary rather than lost.
Source: www.cam.ac.ukDies in Cambridge
Hawking died aged seventy-six; his ashes were interred in Westminster Abbey between Newton and Darwin.
Connected: Isaac Newton · Charles Darwin
Source: www.cam.ac.ukExplore related timelines
This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Stephen Hawking or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
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About the Stephen Hawking timeline
Who is Stephen Hawking?
Stephen Hawking connected gravitation, quantum theory and the early universe while transforming public understanding of cosmology.
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This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1942–2018.
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