Stephen Hawking dies aged 76
LONDON, March 14, 2018
Stephen William Hawking, a renowned physicist, cosmologist and author, died in the early hours of Wednesday, his family said.
He was 76 and died peacefully at his home in Cambridge, they said.
The Briton was known for his work with black holes and relativity, and wrote several popular science books including A Brief History of Time. He was also the director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.
At the age of 22 Prof Hawking was given only a few years to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease.
The illness left him in a wheelchair and largely unable to speak except through a voice synthesiser.
In a statement his children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said: "We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years."
They praised his "courage and persistence" and said his "brilliance and humour" inspired people across the world.
