What was the name of Stephen Hawking's first wife?

Stephen Hawking’s first wife was Jane Wilde, later known as Jane Hawking. They met at a party in 1962 and married in St Albans on 14 July 1965.

The couple’s relationship began shortly before Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1963. They became engaged in 1964 despite doctors’ expectations that his illness would greatly shorten his life. Hawking later said that the prospect of marriage gave him a reason to live and continue pursuing his scientific work.

Jane studied languages at Westfield College, University of London, and later earned a PhD in medieval Spanish poetry. During their marriage, she helped support the family while Hawking’s physical condition progressively worsened. They had three children: Robert, Lucy, and Timothy.

Jane and Stephen separated in 1990 and divorced in 1995. Hawking then married his nurse Elaine Mason. Jane later wrote memoirs about their life together, including Music to Move the Stars and Travelling to Infinity, which helped inspire the film The Theory of Everything.