Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking was born on 8 January 1942 in Oxford, England. When he was eight, his family moved to St Albans. At eleven Stephen went to St Albans School, and then on to University College Oxford. Stephen wanted to do Mathematics, although his father would have preferred medicine. Mathematics was not available at University College, so he did Physics instead. After three years and not very much work he was awarded a first class honours degree in Natural Science.
Stephen then went on to Cambridge to do research in Cosmology.
After leaving the Institute of Astronomy in 1973 Stephen came to the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, and since 1979 has held the post of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.
Stephen Hawking is perhaps best known for his discovery, in 1974, that black holes emit radiation.
Professor Hawking has twelve honorary degrees, was awarded the CBE in 1982, and was made a Companion of Honour in 1989. He is the recipient of many awards, medals and prizes and is a Fellow of The Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences.
Stephen Hawking continues to combine family life, and his research into theoretical physics together with an extensive programme of travel and public lectures.