Stephen Hawking: A brief history of one of Britain's most celebrated scientists

Death of a genius: Professor Stephen Hawking dies aged 76- January 8 1942 - Born at Oxford, England

- 1952-1959 - Educated at St Albans School

- 1959-1962 - Scholar in Natural Science at University College, Oxford

- 1962 - Final Honour School in Natural Science, Physics, First Class

- 1965 - Became research Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

Stephen Hawking's most memorable quotes on fame, the universe and much more- 1966 - Won Cambridge University's prestigious Adams Prize for Essay Singularities and the Geometry of Space-time

- 1969 - Became fellow for Distinction in Science, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

- January 8 1972 - Turned 30.

- 1972 - Became a research assistant in the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge

- 1974 - Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society

Tributes paid across the world as 'genius' Stephen Hawking dies aged 76- 1977 - Appointed professor of Gravitational Physics, University of Cambridge

- 1977 - Made honorary Fellow, University College, Oxford

- 1978 - Awarded honorary Doctorate of Science, University of Oxford

- 1979 - Awarded the Albert Einstein Medal, Berne, Switzerland

- 1979 - Published General Relativity: An Einstein Centenary Survey (edited with W Israel), Cambridge University Press

- 1982 - Made Commander of the British Empire (CBE)

- 1982 - Honorary Doctor of Science at Notre Dame University, Princeton University, New York University and Leicester University

- 1988 - Publishes A Brief History Of Time

One pervading mystery for Stephen Hawking: Women- 1989 - Made Companion of Honour (CH)

- 2006 - Awarded the Copley Medal, the Royal Society's oldest and most prestigious award

- 2009 - Presidential Medal of Freedom

- 2012 - Appeared at the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, London

- 2017 - Honorary Freedom of the City of London