Stephen Hawking dies at 76

Professor Stephen Hawking has died at the age of 76, a spokesman for his family said. 

The famed theoretical physicist passed peacefully at his Cambridge, England home early Wednesday.

In a statement, Professor Hawking's 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.'

The family went on to boast about Hawking's 'courage and persistence'  that 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 forever.' 

The best-known theoretical physicist of his time, Hawking wrote so lucidly of the mysteries of space, time and black holes that his book, 'A Brief History of Time', became an international bestseller, making him one of science's biggest celebrities since Albert Einstein. 

Even though his body was attacked by motor neurone disease when Hawking was 21, he stunned doctors by living with the normally fatal illness for more than 50 years.

Hawking's most famous works included a mathematical model for Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and the nature of the universe such as The Big Bang and Black Holes. 

He wrote or co-wrote 15 books overall.

Hawking was born on January 8, 1942 in Oxford, England.