Astronomer, mathematician, astrophysicist, and science fiction writer, born in Bingley, West Yorkshire, England. He studied at Cambridge, where he taught applied mathematics, became professor of astronomy (1958--72), and founded a world-famous Institute of Theoretical Astronomy. His work on the origin of chemical elements is particularly important. He is a leading proponent of steady-state cosmology, of the notion that viruses come from outer space, and a believer in an extraterrestrial origin for life on Earth. He was knighted in 1972.

Hoyle's scientific works include Nature of the Universe (1952) and Frontiers of Astronomy (1955). His science fiction writing includes The Black Cloud (1957), A for Andromeda (1962, with J. Elliot), and The Molecule Men (1971, with G. Hoyle). His other writing includes stories for children, space serials for television, and two volumes of autobiography, The Small World of Fred Hoyle (1966) and Home is Where the Wind Blows (1994).