Edmund Hillary
Who was Edmund Hillary?
New Zealand mountaineer who, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Edmund Hillary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Edmund Percival Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on July 20, 1919, to a middle-class family. His father worked as a newspaper publisher, and Hillary started out on a conventional path, attending Auckland Grammar School before becoming a beekeeper. However, his real passion was mountaineering, which he discovered on school trips to the Waitakere Ranges. Hillary quickly honed his climbing skills, and by the 1940s he was one of New Zealand's top mountaineers, climbing many peaks in the Southern Alps.
Hillary's mountaineering career caught international attention when he joined the British Mount Everest expedition in 1953, led by John Hunt. On May 29, 1953, Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain at 29,032 feet. This feat earned Hillary worldwide fame and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. Their summit success followed many failed attempts by various expeditions and highlighted human determination and technical climbing skill.
After Everest, Hillary continued exploring and participated in the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition from 1955 to 1958. He led the New Zealand team and became the first person to reach the South Pole overland since Robert Falcon Scott in 1912, using modified tractors instead of dog sleds. This further solidified his status as a leading explorer.
Beyond exploring, Hillary dedicated much of his later years to helping people in Nepal, the country that had been key to his greatest achievement. Through the Himalayan Trust, which he started in 1960, Hillary helped build schools, hospitals, and infrastructure for the Sherpa people in the Everest region. His charity work continued for decades, showing his deep appreciation for the Nepalese people and his commitment to improving their lives. Hillary also served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh from 1985 to 1988, using his diplomatic and regional knowledge. He died in Auckland on January 11, 2008, leaving behind a legacy of exploration, adventure, and helping others.
Before Fame
Hillary grew up in a middle-class Auckland family during the interwar period, when New Zealand was creating its own national identity separate from Britain. His interest in mountaineering began with school trips and family outings that got him outside. After finishing school, Hillary took over his father's beekeeping business, which gave him the seasonal flexibility he needed to focus on mountaineering during New Zealand's climbing season.
In the 1940s and early 1950s, mountaineering became more popular, thanks to better equipment and techniques that made new climbs possible. Hillary improved his skills on New Zealand's tough Southern Alps, especially Mount Cook, which readied him for bigger challenges. His strong performance during the 1951 reconnaissance mission to Everest, where he impressed expedition leaders with his technical skills and determination, led to his selection for the 1953 British Everest expedition.
Key Achievements
- First confirmed climber to reach Mount Everest summit with Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953
- Led successful overland journey to South Pole using tractors during 1955-1958 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition
- Founded the Himalayan Trust in 1960, building schools and hospitals for Sherpa communities
- Served as New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh from 1985-1988
- Established enduring humanitarian programs that improved education and healthcare access in remote Himalayan regions
Did You Know?
- 01.Hillary worked as a beekeeper for most of his life and continued the family apiary business even after becoming world famous
- 02.He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II just five days after her coronation, making the Everest achievement part of the celebrations for the new Elizabethan age
- 03.Hillary's expedition team discovered and named the Hillary Step, a nearly vertical rock face just below Everest's summit that became a key landmark for future climbers
- 04.He appears on the New Zealand five-dollar note alongside mountaineering equipment and an image of Mount Cook
- 05.Hillary drove a Ferguson tractor to the South Pole, proving that mechanized transport could work in Antarctica's extreme conditions