Stephen William Hawking was a preeminent theoretical physicist and cosmologist who served as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge from 1979 to 2009, a position previously held by Isaac Newton. Born in Oxford on January 8, 1942, he received his undergraduate degree in physics from University College, Oxford in 1962 before pursuing graduate studies at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he earned his PhD in applied mathematics and theoretical physics in 1966. His academic career began under extraordinary circumstances when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at age 21, with physicians initially predicting just two years to live, yet he defied these expectations for over five decades. Hawking became a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1965, establishing his lifelong connection with the university while contributing profoundly to theoretical physics despite his progressive physical limitations. His early career was characterized by exceptional promise and rising prominence within the field of cosmology and gravitational physics.
Hawking's most groundbreaking contribution was his theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking radiation, which fundamentally connected quantum mechanics and general relativity while demonstrating that black holes could eventually evaporate. His seminal work on the singularity theorems with Roger Penrose established that Einstein's general theory of relativity implied space-time began at the Big Bang and ended in black holes. His international bestseller A Brief History of Time, published in 1988, revolutionized science communication by making complex cosmological concepts accessible to millions worldwide and spending 237 weeks on the Sunday Times bestseller list. His research profoundly shaped our understanding of black holes, cosmology, and the fundamental laws governing the universe, with his theories on the information paradox and the nature of space-time boundaries remaining influential decades later.
Hawking's intellectual legacy extends far beyond his specific discoveries, as he transformed cosmology from a speculative field into a rigorous precision science with testable predictions. Despite being almost completely paralyzed and requiring a speech-generating device to communicate for the latter part of his life, he remained an active researcher and communicator until his death, continuing to attend seminars and develop new ideas even during hospital stays. His leadership established the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge, fostering generations of researchers who continue to advance our understanding of the universe's origins and structure. Awarded the Copley Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom among numerous other honors, Hawking's work continues to inspire both the scientific community and the global public, cementing his status as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein and a cultural icon of scientific inquiry.
