Stephen Hawking was born on January 8th, 1942 in Oxford, England. At the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. The disease took effect by shutting down the nerves that controlled his muscles. Even though he was given two and a half years to live after he was diagnosed, he did not let that disability stop him. He was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and an author. He even directed the research team at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge during the time period before he passed away. From 1979 to 2009, he was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

Hawking was known for many of his theories. Hawking was the first person to come up with a theory of cosmology that was explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. He became good friends with Roger Penrose, and they helped each other out with theories. Hawking and Penrose collaborated to come up with the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation.

He had a very successful career in being an author too. Some of his most popular books were:

• A Brief History of Time (1988)

• Black Holes and Baby Universes and other Essays (1993)

• The Universe in a Nutshell (2001)

• On the Shoulders of Giants (2002)

Hawking died on the 14th of March in 2018 at the age of 76. His family said he died “peacefully” at his home early in the morning in Cambridge, England. The world was devastated from his passing. The Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge, England flew their flag at half mast. The students and visitors at the college signed a book of condolences and sent it to his family. A tribute was also given at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games by Andrew Parsons at the closing ceremony of the winter games.