Father’s Early Worries Over Stephen Hawking’s Academic Progress

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Stephen Hawking’s father expressed concern in 1961 about his son’s apparent lack of motivation and disinterest in physics during his studies at Oxford. These early doubts contrast sharply with Hawking’s later success, as he overcame personal and health challenges to become a leading cosmologist and widely celebrated science author.

In 1961, Stephen Hawking’s academic progress at Oxford University prompted concern from his father, Frank Hawking, who documented his worries in a personal diary. At the time, the 19-year-old physics student appeared to lack motivation and did not devote significant time to his studies, according to Frank’s entries. He expressed frustration that Stephen "hangs round the house with little initiative and does not study much," contrasting his own youthful ambition despite having fewer advantages.

Frank Hawking, a medical doctor affiliated with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, also noted in his diary that Stephen’s mother, Isobel Hawking, believed their son had "lost faith in physics" during his time at Oxford — a development Frank described as "a great pity if so."

Despite these early concerns, Stephen Hawking’s academic trajectory transformed significantly in the following years. By the age of 24, he had completed a doctoral thesis exploring an expanding universe, earning his PhD. This marked the beginning of a distinguished career that would establish him as one of the most influential figures in modern cosmology.

Hawking’s contributions to science extended beyond academia into popular culture. His 1988 book, *A Brief History of Time*, achieved widespread acclaim and sold tens of millions of copies worldwide, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience.

Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at 21, a condition that progressively limited his physical abilities. Despite this, he continued his work in physics and became a prominent voice in theoretical physics and cosmology until his death in 2018 at age 76.

The diary entries, revealing the early parental concerns about Hawking’s commitment to his studies, were provided to Graham Farmelo, who is preparing the first authorized biography, *Hawking: His Life and Work*. This insight into Hawking’s formative years offers a nuanced perspective on the challenges he faced before achieving global recognition for his groundbreaking scientific achievements.