Stephen Hawking
Diagnosed with ALS at 21 and given two years; held Newton's chair for three decades.
Stephen Hawking was born in 1942 in Oxford, England. Stephen Hawking's background is described as English. Growing up, the family was middle class — academic household — tropical-medicine researcher father; educated but frugal. Diagnosed with ALS at 21 and given two years; held Newton's chair for three decades.
- Born
- 1942 · Oxford, England
- Roots
- English
- Family
- Middle class
- Academic household — tropical-medicine researcher father; educated but frugal.
- Education
- Oxford (physics) → Cambridge (PhD, cosmology)
- Started with
- Scholarship
- Entered Oxford at 17 on a scholarship.
- Affiliations & societies
- Royal SocietyDocumented
- Elected a fellow in 1974, among the youngest at the time.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1959 · age 17Oxford at 17
- 1963 · age 21ALS diagnosis
Given roughly two years to live; lives another 55.
- 1966 · age 24Cambridge PhD
On expanding universes and singularities.
- 1974 · age 32Hawking radiation
Shows black holes emit radiation; elected to the Royal Society the same year.
- 1979 · age 37Lucasian Professor
The Cambridge mathematics chair once held by Newton.
- 1985 · age 43Loses his voice
After a tracheotomy; speaks through a synthesizer from then on.
- 1988 · age 46A Brief History of Time
Sells more than 10 million copies.
- 2018 · age 76Dies
Ashes interred in Westminster Abbey between Newton and Darwin.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Stephen Hawking from?
Stephen Hawking was born in 1942 in Oxford, England. Their background is described as English.
When was Stephen Hawking born?
Stephen Hawking was born in 1942, in Oxford, England.
What is Stephen Hawking's background or ethnicity?
Stephen Hawking's roots are described as English. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Stephen Hawking go to school?
Stephen Hawking's education: Oxford (physics) → Cambridge (PhD, cosmology).
What was Stephen Hawking's family background growing up?
At birth the family was middle class. Academic household — tropical-medicine researcher father; educated but frugal.
How did Stephen Hawking get started?
Stephen Hawking started with scholarship. Entered Oxford at 17 on a scholarship.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.