Stephen Hawking, celebrated physicist and author, passed away at the age of 76. A family representative informed the media. Hawking, regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein was a former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. His book A Brief History of Time, has been widely read. In a statement issued, 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. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said, ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him for ever.” Hawking had contracted motor neurone disease in 1963 and was then told he had just two years. His perseverance, and defiance to admit defeat was noteworthy and was always lauded. News of his death has come as a shock to many as people have taken to social media to mourn his death. "We were on earth at the same time as Stephen Hawking," wrote one while another wrote, "RIP Stephen Hawking. A brief history of Time shaped my last years of high school. And is still one of my favorite pieces of literature" Here are some of the tweets mourning Hawking's death. We were on earth at the same time as Stephen Hawking. That's kind of a miraculous thing. We breathed the same air as the man who demystified the stars. — Geraldine (@everywhereist) March 14, 2018 RIP Stephen Hawking. A brief history of Time shaped my last years of high school. And is still one of my favorite pieces of literature — akira (@ATrippyKing) March 14, 2018 I have admired and revered Stephen Hawking since I read A Brief History of Time when was a boy. It is with profound sadness that I learn of his death. The world has lost a special human being.#StephenHawking pic.twitter.com/RZ4Sc2sYwZ — Roger Warren ️ (@MissesThe90s) March 14, 2018 Stephen Hawking, modern cosmology's brightest star, dies aged 76#RIP_Stephen_Hawking — RITESH SIRAJ (@RITESHSIRAJ) March 14, 2018 RIP Stephen Hawking. Achieved many amazing things throughout his life, while becoming a inspirational scientific figure. — Remy (@RemyHoggard) March 14, 2018 RIP Stephen Hawking, energy can not be created or destroyed, your energy will live on, I hope you’re speeding through the universe and experiencing all of the things your great mind already imagined — DLWP 🇺🇸🇳🇿🗽 (@milleniumfu) March 14, 2018 Stephen Hawking had one of the best Simpsons cameos of all-time and helped us understand black holes, what a legend. RIP pic.twitter.com/NLjesXCjsL — Thomas Broome-Jones (@TBroomey) March 14, 2018 RIP to the legendary Stephen Hawking. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/SxD9mloEls — Stephen Racaza (@stephenracaza_) March 14, 2018 Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at 21 & given just 2 years to live. Not only did he defy the odds for 52 years, even as his body failed him, his mind soared. I hope his meeting with the Universe was beyond even his wildest imagining. 💜 — Caissie St.Onge (@Caissie) March 14, 2018 RIP Stephen Hawking. And may the force be with you. Always. pic.twitter.com/5LMDLuymq1 — Bad Father Han Solo (@BadFatherHan) March 14, 2018 “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious” RIP Stephen Hawking — Marc Fennell (@MarcFennell) March 14, 2018 Some even shared little-known facts about him. Hawking was a fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the US National Academy of Science. He was also the subject of the 2014 film The Theory Of Everything, which starred Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones.
