Stephen William Hawking was born in 1942 in Oxford, England. He grew up in St. Albans and had a father who was a research biologist and a mother who was a medical research secretary. Hawking is best known for his work regarding black holes, where he hypothesized their properties using complex mathematical calculations based on Einstein's work and observed models using laser beams. His accomplishments led to new ideas and theories, including his theory on black hole radiation and information loss within black holes.