Stephen Hawking's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Stephen Hawking. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Stephen Hawking was a highly influential English theoretical astrophysicist and cosmologist. He served as the Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge and held the prestigious position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge from 1979 to 2009. His work significantly contributed to our understanding of black holes, the Big Bang, and the unification of general relativity with quantum mechanics. Despite battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for most of his adult life, Hawking made groundbreaking contributions to science and became a popular science icon through his books, making complex concepts accessible to a wide audience.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

March 1959: Hawking awarded a scholarship

In March 1959, Stephen Hawking was awarded a scholarship after taking examinations, despite his headmaster's advice to wait until the next year.

1968: Hawking's joint essay is runner-up

In 1968, Stephen Hawking's and Roger Penrose's joint essay was the runner-up in the Gravity Research Foundation competition.

1969: Hawking accepts Fellowship for Distinction in Science

In 1969, Stephen Hawking accepted a specially created Fellowship for Distinction in Science to remain at Caius College.

January 1971: Hawking wins Gravity Research Foundation Award

In January 1971, Stephen Hawking's essay titled "Black Holes" won the Gravity Research Foundation Award.

1974: Hawking elected Fellow of the Royal Society

In 1974, Stephen Hawking was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), becoming one of the youngest scientists to receive this honor.

1975: Return to Cambridge and Awards

In 1975, Hawking returned to Cambridge as reader in gravitational physics. That same year, he was awarded both the Eddington Medal and the Pius XI Gold Medal for his work.

1976: Academic Recognition

In 1976, Hawking received the Dannie Heineman Prize, the Maxwell Medal and Prize, and the Hughes Medal, furthering the academic recognition of his work.

1979: Hawking becomes Lucasian Professor

In 1979, Stephen Hawking was appointed as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, a prestigious academic position.

1981: Awarded the American Franklin Medal

In 1981, Stephen Hawking was awarded the American Franklin Medal.

1982: Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire

In the 1982 New Year Honours, Stephen Hawking was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

1984: Membership in American Academy of Arts and Sciences and American Philosophical Society

In 1984, Stephen Hawking became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.

1985: Awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society

In 1985, Stephen Hawking received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society.

1986: Appointed an Academician at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences

In 1986, Stephen Hawking was appointed an Academician at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

1987: Awarded the Paul Dirac Medal

In 1987, Stephen Hawking was awarded the Paul Dirac Medal.

April 1988: Publication of "A Brief History of Time" in the US

In April 1988, Stephen Hawking's book "A Brief History of Time" was published in the US and quickly rose to the top of best-seller lists.

1988: Awarded the Wolf Prize

In 1988, Stephen Hawking, jointly with Penrose, was awarded the Wolf Prize.

1989: Appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour

In the 1989 Birthday Honours, Stephen Hawking was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH).

1992: Membership in U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Honorary Membership

In 1992, Stephen Hawking became a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and was awarded Honorary membership of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

1999: Awarded the Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize

In 1999, Stephen Hawking was awarded the Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize of the American Physical Society, adding to his role as a role model for disabled people and his participation in fundraising activities.

2002: Hawking ranked in BBC's 100 Greatest Britons

In 2002, Stephen Hawking was ranked number 25 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, recognizing his significant impact and contributions.

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2002: Included in BBC's List of 100 Greatest Britons

In 2002, following a UK-wide vote, the BBC included Stephen Hawking in their list of the 100 Greatest Britons.

2006: Awarded the Copley Medal from the Royal Society

In 2006, Stephen Hawking was awarded the Copley Medal from the Royal Society.

2008: Received the Fonseca Prize in Spain

In 2008, Stephen Hawking received the Fonseca Prize in Spain as part of his widespread travels that included trips to Chile, Easter Island, South Africa, and Canada.

2009: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2009, Stephen Hawking received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honour.

2013: Higgs Wins Nobel Prize and Hawking Concedes Bet

In 2013, Peter Higgs won the Nobel Prize for Physics. Hawking conceded that he had lost his bet and said that Higgs should win the Nobel Prize for Physics.

2013: Awarded the Russian Special Fundamental Physics Prize

In 2013, Stephen Hawking was awarded the Russian Special Fundamental Physics Prize.

2015: BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award

In 2015, Stephen Hawking and Viatcheslav Mukhanov received the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Basic Sciences for their discovery that galaxies were formed from quantum fluctuations in the early Universe.

2016: Pride of Britain Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2016, Stephen Hawking was awarded the Pride of Britain lifetime achievement award for his contribution to science and British culture. After receiving the award from Theresa May, Hawking jokingly requested that she not seek his help with Brexit.

2016: Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication Initiated

In 2016, the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication was initiated as an annual award to honor members of the arts community for contributions that help build awareness of science. Recipients receive a medal bearing a portrait of Stephen Hawking by Alexei Leonov, and the other side represents an image of Leonov himself performing the first spacewalk along with an image of the "Red Special", the guitar of Brian May.

2016: Starmus III Festival and Awards

The 2016 Starmus III Festival paid tribute to Stephen Hawking, and the book of all Starmus III lectures, "Beyond the Horizon", was also dedicated to him. The first recipients of the Stephen Hawking Medals, which were awarded at the festival, were chosen by Hawking himself: composer Hans Zimmer, physicist Jim Al-Khalili, and the science documentary film Particle Fever (2013).

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July 2017: Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Imperial College London

In July 2017, Stephen Hawking was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Imperial College London.

2017: Establishment of the Professor Stephen Hawking Fellowship

In 2017, the Cambridge Union Society, in conjunction with Stephen Hawking, established the Professor Stephen Hawking Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded annually to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the STEM fields and social discourse, with a particular focus on impacts affecting the younger generations. Each fellow delivers a lecture on a topic of their choosing, known as the "Hawking Lecture".