Stephen Hawking Biography, Age, Family, Disease, Books, Awards, Facts

By Socially Keeda on February 24, 2026
 
Updated on February 24, 2026
www.SociallyKeeda.com
Stephen William Hawking

Stephen William Hawking

Theoretical Physicist, Author

A detailed biography of Stephen Hawking, his life, illness, work in black holes, books, awards, and legacy.

Born January 08, 1942
Nationality British
Height 169 cm, 5 feet 6½ in

"Without imperfection, you or I would not exist."

Stephen Hawking changed how people see space and time. He asked big questions and gave bold answers. His life was a mix of sharp science and deep courage.

He lived with a severe nerve disease for over fifty years. Doctors once gave him two years to live. He proved them wrong. His work on black holes still shapes physics today. This biography shares his full story for readers of SociallyKeeda.

Personal Information

Full Name: Stephen William Hawking
Born:
Oxford, England
Stephen William Hawking Current Age: 76 years 2 months (At time of death)
Death :
Cambridge, England
(Aged: 76 years 2 months)
Nationality: British
Occupation: Theoretical Physicist, Author
Known For:
  • Black hole radiation theory
  • Work on singularities
  • A Brief History of Time
  • Living long with ALS
  • The Science of Space and Time: Public Lectures
Spouse: Jane Wilde, 1965 to 1995 Elaine Mason, 1995 to 2006
Parents: Father - Frank Hawking, research biologist, Mother: Isobel Hawking, medical research secretary
Website: https://hawking.org.uk
Stephen William Hawking Social media links:

Physical Attributes

Height: 169 cm, 5 feet 6½ in
Weight: 62 kg

Stephen William Hawking - Early life

Born during World War II, Stephen… His parents came to Oxford for safety. His family later lived in St Albans. He had been curious since he was young. He loved math and science. At school, he was nicknamed Einstein by his friends. He was not top of his class. He learned in his own way. His mathematics teacher, Dikran Tahta, was an inspiration. With friends, he assembled a rudimentary computer from spare parts.

Education

Stephen undertook a degree in physics at University College, Oxford. He earned first class honours. He later went to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was a student of Dennis Sciama in cosmology. He received the Adams Prize in 1966. His thesis focused on expanding universes and geometry of space time.

Career

Doctors diagnosed him with ALS at 21. ALS slowly weakens muscles. Most patients survive only a few years. Hawking had over five decades of life with the disease. His speech declined. Later, he spoke using a speech device connected to a computer.

He made the second law of black hole dynamics in 1970. He later described Hawking radiation. This theory highlighted that black holes will emit energy over time. His work combined gravity with quantum theory. These are two fundamental components of modern physics.

He was Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge from 1979 to 2009. This chair used to be occupied by Isaac Newton.

He authored numerous books for the general public. A Brief History of Time has sold more than 10 million copies. The Universe in a Nutshell appeared in 2001. He wrote children’s books together with his daughter Lucy. These books made physics accessible to young readers.

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Timeline of Stephen William Hawking

1942:
Born in Oxford
1963:
Diagnosed with ALS
1966:
Won Adams Prize
1970:
Proposed black hole area law
1974:
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
1979:
Became Lucasian Professor
1988:
Published A Brief History of Time
2009:
Received US Presidential Medal of Freedom
2018:
Passed away in Cambridge

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Achievements

  • 1950 — 2023 RESEARCH INTERESTS: Fellows of the Royal Society, 1974
  • Albert Einstein Award, 1978
  • Order of the British Empire, 1982
  • Wolf Prize, 1988
  • Companion of Honour, 1989
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2009
  • Fundamental Physics Prize, 2012

Awards

He was the recipient of more than a dozen major global awards. He was honored by many leading science organizations. His work shaped modern cosmology.

Legacy

Stephen married Jane Wilde in 1965. They had three children. The marriage ended in 1995. He later married Elaine Mason. That marriage ended in 2006. He was heavy on humor and strong will. Friends remembered him as witty and audacious.

Stephen Hawking proved that there are no limits for the mind. His research still guides physicists. He brought space science into living rooms through his books. His name is on many science centers. His journey motivates those who are ill and those who are not. He demonstrated that even the body can fail, thought remains free.”

Final Words:-

Stephen Hawking was a notable and acknowledged Physicist. The time when he was diagnosed with a degenerative motor neuron disease. He battled all odds and emerged as one of the greatest physicists of the 21st century. Despite losing the dexterity of his hands, he made a path-breaking discovery related to black holes. Hawking died at the age of 76 years on 14th March, 2018.

Know More About Stephen Hawking:

  • Stephen Hawking’s Official Facebook: Like Him
  • Stephen Hawking’s Official Twitter: Follow Him
  • Stephen Hawking’s Official Instagram: Follow Him
  • Stephen Hawking’s Official Website: Visit Here
  • The Stephen Hawking Foundation: Click Here

Stephen Hawking’s goals were incredibly ambitious. If you also have that ambition in you then do share this amazing Stephen Hawking Quotes Images only from SociallyKeeda.

Stephen William Hawking Famous quotes

"Without imperfection, you or I would not exist."

— Stephen William Hawking

"Quiet people have the loudest minds."

— Stephen William Hawking

"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change."

— Stephen William Hawking

"If time travel is possible, where are the tourists from the future?"

— Stephen William Hawking

"People who boast about their IQ are losers."

— Stephen William Hawking

"I have so much that I want to do. I hate wasting time."

— Stephen William Hawking

"Aggression, humanity’s greatest vice, will destroy civilization."

— Stephen William Hawking

"I am just a child who has never grown up."

— Stephen William Hawking

"Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny."

— Stephen William Hawking

"Keeping an active mind has been vital to my survival, as has been maintaining a sense of humor."

— Stephen William Hawking

"The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people."

— Stephen William Hawking

Leak Videos & Photos Links

Stephen William Hawking Videos & Photos

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What disease did Stephen Hawking have?

He had ALS, a motor neuron disease.
It is a theory that black holes lose energy over time.
He lived more than fifty years after diagnosis.
A Brief History of Time made him famous worldwide.
Yes. He received many global science awards.

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Socially Keeda
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Socially Keeda is the newsroom’s news assistant that brings you clarity in a world of fake news. We speak with journalists, readers and community voices to find practical insights about culture, finances, tech and life. Each post is designed to make it possible for you to learn something useful without hype from busy people making sure they still have time for other things in life and at work.

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