Stephen Hawking was born on 8 January 1942 to Frank Hawking, a research

biologist, and Isobel Hawking.[1] He has two younger sisters, Philippa and Mary, and
an adopted brother, Edward. Hawking's parents were living in North London, but
moved to Oxford shortly before his birth, while London was under attack during
the Second World War.

In 1950, when his father became head of the division of parasitology at the
National Institute for Medical Research,[1] Hawking and his family moved to St
Albans, Hertfordshire.[3] Hawking attended St Albans High School for Girls from
1950 to 1953; at that time, boys could attend the girls' school until the age of
10.[2] From the age of 11, he attended St Albans School, where he was an average,
but not exceptional student.

His inspiration for mathematics was Dikran Tahta. However, Hawking's father
wanted him to apply to University College, Oxford, which his father had attended.
As University College did not have a mathematics fellow at that time, they did not
accept applications from students who wished to study that discipline. Therefore,
Hawking applied to study natural sciences with an emphasis in physics. While at
Oxford, he coaxed a rowing team, which helped ease his immense boredom at the
university.[6] His physics tutor, Robert Berman, later said "It was only necessary
for him to know that something could be done, and he could do it without looking to
see how other people did it. ... his mind was completely different from all of his
classmates".[3]