# Paul Dirac

_British theoretical physicist (1902–1984)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/paul-dirac
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac was an English theoretical physicist who was one of the founders of quantum mechanics. Dirac laid the foundations for quantum electrodynamics and quantum field theory. He was Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge from 1932 to 1969, and a professor of physics at Florida State University from 1970 to 1984. Dirac shared the 1933 Nobel Prize in Physics with Erwin Schrödinger "for the discovery of new productive forms of atomic theory."

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 8 August 1902 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Bristol ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P19))
- **Died:** 20 October 1984 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P570))
- **Place of death:** Tallahassee ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United Kingdom; Switzerland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P27))
- **Occupation:** mathematician; theoretical physicist; professor; physicist; scientist; academic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P106))
- **Education:** University of Bristol; University of Cambridge; Cotham School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P69))
- **Spouse:** Margit Dirac ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P26))
- **Positions held:** Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (1932–1969) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P39))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physics; Fellow of the Royal Society; Copley Medal; Royal Medal; Max Planck Medal; Helmholtz Medal; J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Prize; Royal Society Bakerian Medal; Order of Merit; Royal Society Bakerian Medal; doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480#P166))

## Questions

**When was Paul Dirac born?**  
Paul Dirac was born on 8 August 1902 in Bristol.

**What positions has Paul Dirac held?**  
Positions held by Paul Dirac include: Lucasian Professor of Mathematics (1932–1969).

**Where did Paul Dirac study?**  
Paul Dirac was educated at University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, Cotham School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Paul Dirac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Dirac) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q47480](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47480) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Paul Dirac, 1933.jpg by Nobel Foundation (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_Dirac,_1933.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Paul Dirac, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Paul Dirac, 1933.jpg — Nobel Foundation, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Paul Dirac". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/paul-dirac. Retrieved 5 November 2026.