If you were to mention the name "Stephen Hawking" to a group of people, a few different things might come to mind. You might think about his controversial views on religion, his debilitating illness, or his theories about how the universe was formed. This essay will delve into all these topics, including many other facts from Stephen Hawking's life. Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, exactly three hundred years after Galileo's death. He was born to parents Frank and Isobel Hawking in Oxford, England. Her parents lived in North London, but due to the Second World War Oxford was considered a safer place to give birth. Around his eighth birthday, his family moved to St. Albans, a town located about twenty miles north of London. He then began attending St. Albans School, where he was a middle-class student. After graduating from St. Albans, he attended Oxford University. Stephen initially wanted to study mathematics at Oxford, but the course was not available at the time. He then specialized in physics and, after three years of very little work, he graduated with honors in Natural Sciences. A few years later, Stephen went on to study cosmology at Cambridge University. While at Cambridge, he met his future wife, Jane Wilde, who was attracted to his sense of humor. He went on to graduate with honors and is still part of the college today, as he holds an office in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Just a few days after his twenty-first birthday, Stephen was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic ALS). lateral sclerosis). This disease causes the slow degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to the loss of major muscle movements and even… middle of paper… hey, never found one. However, it gives geniuses like Stephen Hawking something to think about and study every day. Hawking is also seen as a very controversial figure due to his outspoken disbelief towards religion. He has published many books on the topic of the creation of the universe, including The Grand Design. He is an outspoken atheist and has never hidden this opinion from the public. This impacts society by giving people another view of religion and how the universe was created. Stephen Hawking lived a tense personal life due to all the challenges in his life. His first marriage to Jane Wilde ended in divorce in 1991. Hawking then married a former nurse and longtime friend, Elaine Mason, in 1995. However, the marriage ended bitterly in 2007. He currently lives in Cambridge, England , with several nurses. who help take care of him.