Stephen Hawking's Milestones

Stephen Hawking was a British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author of A Brief History of Time, renowned for his groundbreaking work on black holes and his perseverance while living with ALS.
1942

Birth

Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford, England, to Frank and Isobel Hawking.

Family January 8, 1942

Birth

Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford, England, to Frank and Isobel Hawking.

Family January 8, 1942
1950

Family moved to St Albans

Moved with family to St Albans when his father became head of parasitology at the National Institute for Medical Research.

Location January 1, 1950
1952

Attended St Albans School

Attended St Albans School, developed scientific interests and built a computer with friends.

Education September 1, 1952 - June 1, 1959
1959

Attended University College, Oxford

Studied physics at University College, Oxford, graduating with first-class honors.

Education October 1, 1959 - June 1, 1962

Started at University College, Oxford

Began undergraduate studies in physics at University College, Oxford.

Education October 1, 1959 - June 1, 1962
1962

Graduated with first-class honors

Graduated from Oxford with first-class honors in physics.

Achievement June 1, 1962

Started PhD at Cambridge

Began doctoral studies in cosmology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, under Dennis Sciama.

Education October 1, 1962 - March 1, 1966
1963

Diagnosed with ALS

Diagnosed with ALS at age 21 and given a short life expectancy, but continued research.

Other January 1, 1963
1965

Married Jane Wilde

Married Jane Wilde, whom he met at Cambridge.

Relationship July 14, 1965
1966

PhD awarded

Awarded PhD in applied mathematics and theoretical physics with thesis on singularities in the universe.

Achievement March 1, 1966

Research fellowship at Caius College

Received research fellowship at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Career October 1, 1966
1969

Collaborated with Roger Penrose

Collaborated with Roger Penrose on singularity theorems, contributing to Big Bang theory.

Achievement January 1, 1969 - January 1, 1970
1970

Proposed second law of black hole dynamics

Formulated the second law of black hole dynamics.

Achievement January 1, 1970
1973

Published first book

Co-authored 'The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time' with George Ellis.

Achievement January 1, 1973
1974

Discovered Hawking radiation

Proposed the theory of Hawking radiation, revolutionizing black hole physics.

Achievement January 1, 1974

Visiting professorship at Caltech

Appointed Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Visiting Professor at Caltech.

Career January 1, 1974

Elected Fellow of the Royal Society

Elected Fellow of the Royal Society after proposing Hawking radiation.

Achievement March 1, 1974
1975

Won Eddington and Pius XI Gold Medals

Received Eddington Medal and Pius XI Gold Medal for contributions to physics.

Achievement January 1, 1975
1977

Appointed Professor of Gravitational Physics

Appointed Professor of Gravitational Physics at Cambridge.

Career January 1, 1977
1978

Received Albert Einstein Medal

Awarded the Albert Einstein Medal.

Achievement January 1, 1978
1979

Elected Lucasian Professor of Mathematics

Held the Lucasian Professorship of Mathematics at Cambridge University.

Career January 1, 1979 - September 30, 2009
1983

Proposed no-boundary universe model

Developed the Hartle–Hawking no-boundary proposal with Jim Hartle.

Achievement January 1, 1983
1988

Published 'A Brief History of Time'

Published 'A Brief History of Time,' which became an international bestseller.

Achievement March 1, 1988
2001

Published 'The Universe in a Nutshell'

Published 'The Universe in a Nutshell,' a popular science book.

Achievement January 1, 2001
2006

Received Copley Medal

Awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society.

Achievement January 1, 2006
2007

Published children's books with daughter Lucy

Co-authored 'George's Secret Key to the Universe' and sequels with daughter Lucy.

Achievement January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2016
2009

Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor.

Achievement January 1, 2009

Retired as Lucasian Professor

Retired as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge.

Career September 30, 2009
2018

Final scientific publications

Published final scientific papers on black hole entropy and cosmology.

Achievement January 1, 2018

Death

Stephen Hawking died in Cambridge, England, after a lifetime of scientific achievement.

Other March 14, 2018

Ashes interred at Westminster Abbey

Ashes interred at Westminster Abbey between Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

Other June 15, 2018