Stephen William Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, and died on March 14, 2018.
He was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author, and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.
Stephen Hawking’s scientific works included a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation.
He was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics.
Hawking was a vigorous supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.
He was an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
During 2002, Hawking was ranked number 25 in the BBC’s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
Hawking was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge between 1979 and 2009 and achieved commercial success with works of popular science in which he discusses his own theories and cosmology in general.
He died at 76 years old.