6. Sir Edmund Hillary
Introduction
Sir Edmund Hillary was a great explorer and climber.
He was the first to reach the top of Mount Everest
(27,900 feet ).
9. Childhood
Sir Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand,
July 20th, 1919.
His grandparents immigrated from England in
the mid-19th century and settled in Wairoa.
10. Childhood
Sir Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand,
July 20th, 1919.
His grandparents immigrated from England in
the mid-19th century and settled in Wairoa.
In 1920 his family moved to Tuakau, after his
father was given land there.
11.
12. Childhood
In 1935, during a school ski trip to Mount
Ruapehu, Hillary’s interest for the mountains
grew and never left him.
In 1939, he climbed his first mountain: the 1,710-
foot Mount Oliver in New Zealand.
13.
14. Adulthood
WW II Hillary applied to the Royal New Zealand
Air Force (RNZAF)
He served as a navigator on 6 Catalina flying
boats.
After serving in the South Pacific (1945) he was
injured and returned to New Zealand
15.
16. Adulthood
In 1951 Hillary was invited to join a British
expedition to Everest led by Eric Shipton.
17. Adulthood
In 1952 Hillary, led again by Eric Shipton
attempted Mt Cho Oyu, which lies in the
Himalayas and is 20 km west of Mount Everest,
at the border between China and Nepal.
18. Mt. Everest
The highest point on Earth, measures 29,028 feet
high, roughly six miles.
No one in history had successfully completed the
climb.
Many lives were lost during attempts.
19.
20.
21. The climb of Everest 1953
In March 1953, Hillary, Sir John Hunt, Eric
Shipton, and twenty of the world’s best
climbers gathered at Everest.
Hillary considered pulling out, but both
Hunt and Shipton talked him into
remaining.
22. The climb of Everest 1953
.
Hillary planned to climb with George Lowe but
Hunt named two teams for the assault:
(Team 1) Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans
(Team 2) Hillary and Sherpa guide, Tenzing
Norgay
23. The climb of Everest 1953
The team set up base camp at the South Col
route at 25,900 feet elevation.
On the 26th of May, Team 1 attempted the
climb, but turned back when Charles Evan’s
oxygen system failed.
24. The climb of Everest 1953
Sir John Hunt then directed Hillary and Tenzing
to go for the summit. They set out on the 28th of
May, pitching a tent at 27,900 feet.
Snow and wind held the pair up for two days.
25.
26. The climb of Everest 1953
The crucial move of the last part of the trip was
the 40-foot rock face later named the "Hillary
Step."
27. The climb of Everest 1953
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached
Everest's 29,028 ft summit at 11:30 a.m.,
becoming the first two people to reach the top of
the world!
28.
29. After Everest
Hillary and Hunt were knighted by the Queen.
Tenzing received George Medal from the British
Government.
30. After Everest
Edmund Hillary married Louise Mary Rose in
1953, after the Everest expedition. He had three
children:
Peter Hillary born 1954
Sarah Hillary born 1955
Belinda Hillary born 1959
31. After Everest
Hillary climbed ten other peaks in the Himalayas.
He also reached the South Pole January 4th,
1958.
His party was the first to reach the Pole overland
using motor vehicles.
32. After Everest
In 1977, he led a jet boat expedition, titled
"Ocean to Sky," from the mouth of the Ganges
River.
Between 1977 and 1979, Hillary commentated
several Antarctic sightseeing flights operated by
Air New Zealand.
33. After Everest
Sir Hillary was scheduled to commentate Air
New Zealand Flight 901, but cancelled. His close
friend Peter Mulgrew took his place.
The aircraft crashed into Mount Erebus in
Antarctica, killing all on board.
Hillary later married Mulgrew's widow.
34. After Everest
In 1985, Hillary was appointed New Zealand High
Commissioner to India and lived for 4 ½ years in
New Delhi.
In 1985 he accompanied Neil Armstrong in a ski
plane over the Arctic Ocean, landing at the North
Pole.
He then became the first man to stand at both
poles and on the summit of Everest.
35. Public recognition
Knighted Commander of the Order of the British
Empire on June 6th, 1953
Made member of the Order of New Zealand in
1987
Knighted of the Order of the Garter on April
22nd, 1995; and
Bestowed the Padma Vibhushan, by the Indian
Government.
36. Public recognition
Awarded the Polar Medal for his part in the
Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, and
The Order of the Gurkha Right Hand, 1st Class of
the Kingdom of Nepal in 1953.
38. Public recognition
To mark the 50th anniversary of the trip to Mt.
Everest, the Nepalese Government awarded Sir
Hillary honorary citizenship
He was the first foreign national to receive that
honor.
39. Public recognition
Two Antarctic features are named after Sir
Hillary.
The Hillary Coast is a section of coastline south
of Ross Island and north of the Shackleton
Coast.
40. After Everest
On March 31, 1975, Sir Hillary’s daughter, Belinda
and her mother, Louise, died in a plane crash.
Hillary married a second time to June Mulgrew
in 1989.
Sir Edmund Percival Hillary died on January 11th,
2008 due to a heart attack. He lived 88 years.
Sir Edmund Hillary was a great explorer and climber. He was the first to reach the top of Mount Everest (27,900 feet ). He also climbed many other mountains. I will talk about his childhood, adulthood, when he climbed Mt. Everest,, and public recognition after Everest.
Sir Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, July 20th, 1919 to Percival Augustus and Gertrude Hillary. His grandparents immigrated from England in the mid-19 th century and settled in Wairoa [Wyroa]. A small town on the east coast of the North Island. In 1920 his family moved to Tuakau [Toacow] (south of Auckland), after his father was given land there. Hillary liked to read adventure stories and had a great imagination, but in school he was shy and kids thought he was ‘odd’. During secondary school years, he helped his father in his bookkeeping business and soon quit school to work with his father full-time
Sir Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, July 20th, 1919 to Percival Augustus and Gertrude Hillary. His grandparents immigrated from England in the mid-19 th century and settled in Wairoa [Wyroa]. A small town on the east coast of the North Island. In 1920 his family moved to Tuakau [Toacow] (south of Auckland), after his father was given land there. Hillary liked to read adventure stories and had a great imagination, but in school he was shy and kids thought he was ‘odd’. During secondary school years, he helped his father in his bookkeeping business and soon quit school to work with his father full-time
Sir Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, July 20th, 1919 to Percival Augustus and Gertrude Hillary. His grandparents immigrated from England in the mid-19 th century and settled in Wairoa [Wyroa]. A small town on the east coast of the North Island. In 1920 his family moved to Tuakau [Toacow] (south of Auckland), after his father was given land there. Hillary liked to read adventure stories and had a great imagination, but in school he was shy and kids thought he was ‘odd’. During secondary school years, he helped his father in his bookkeeping business and soon quit school to work with his father full-time
Sir Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, July 20th, 1919 to Percival Augustus and Gertrude Hillary. His grandparents immigrated from England in the mid-19 th century and settled in Wairoa [Wyroa]. A small town on the east coast of the North Island. In 1920 his family moved to Tuakau [Toacow] (south of Auckland), after his father was given land there. Hillary liked to read adventure stories and had a great imagination, but in school he was shy and kids thought he was ‘odd’. During secondary school years, he helped his father in his bookkeeping business and soon quit school to work with his father full-time
In 1935, during a school, ski trip to Mount Ruapehu [Ruapahu] (located in the center of the North Island), Hillary’s interest for the mountains grew and never left him He would often go to the mountains to ski and hike, and developed a passion for climbing. A few years later (1939), he climbed his first mountain: the 1,750-foot Mount Oliver found at the top of the South Island in New Zealand.
At the start of World War II, Hillary applied to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), but withdrew his application before it was considered because e was "harassed by his religious conscience". With the introduction of the draft on the outbreak of war in the Pacific, in 1943, Hillary did join the RNZAF as a navigator and served in 6 of the No. 5 RNZAF Squadron Catalina flying boats. In 1945 he was sent to Fiji and to the Solomon Islands where he was badly burnt in a boat accident, after which he was sent back to New Zealand.
During the 1940s, Hillary made many climbs in New Zealand, particularly in the Southern Alps. He quickly became recognized for his daring, strength, and reliability. He further made climbs in Europe and the Scottish Highlands. In 1951 Hillary was invited to join a British expedition to Everest led by Eric Shipton. The expedition failed, but later Hillary was invited for the approved (& successful) British summit to Mt. Everest in 1953.
In 1952 Hillary was part of another team led by Eric Shipton that attempted (without success) Mt Cho Oyu, which lies in the Himalayas and is 20 km west of Mount Everest, at the border between China and Nepal. It’s the 6th highest mountain in the world at 26,906 ft.
The highest point on Earth, Mt Everest measures 29,028 feet high, roughly six miles. No one in history had successfully completed the climb, and many lives were lost during attempts. Some came close before they disappeared somewhere near the mountain's peak.
In March 1953, Hillary, Sir John Hunt, Eric Shipton, and twenty of the world’s best climbers gathered at Everest. Their company also included 350 Nepalese workers carrying 10,000 pounds of food and equipment, as well as thirty-six Sherpas, people who are familiar with the rugged terrain and are invaluable guides for climbers. Hillary considered pulling out, but both Hunt and Shipton talked him into remaining.
Hillary planned to climb with George Lowe but Hunt named two teams for the assault, (Team 1) Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans (Team 2) Hillary and Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay
The team set up base at the South Col route at 25,900 feet elevation. On the 26th of May, Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans attempted the climb, but turned back when Evan’s oxygen system failed. The pair reached the South Summit, coming within 300 vertical feet of the summit.
Hunt then directed Hillary and Tenzing to go for the summit. They set out on the 28th of May, pitching a tent at 27,900 feet. On the following morning Hillary discovered that his boots had frozen solid outside the tent. He spent two hours warming them before he and Tenzing attempted the final trip wearing 30-pound packs. Snow and wind held the pair up for two days.
The crucial move of the last part of the trip was the 40-foot rock face later named the "Hillary Step." Hillary wedged his way up a crack in the face between the rock wall and the ice and Tenzing followed.
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached Everest's 29,028 ft summit at 11:30 a.m., becoming the first two people to reach the top of the world! Tenzing Norgay stated in his narration "The Dream Comes True" that Hillary had taken the first step on Mount Everest, despite Hillary quoting that they both reached the summit at the same time. They spent only about 15 minutes at the summit. Hillary took the famous photo of Tenzing posing with his ice-axe, but since Tenzing had never used a camera, Hillary's trip went unrecorded.
News of the expedition reached Britain on the day of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the 2nd, and the press called the successful trip a coronation gift. In return, the 37 members of the party received the Queen Elizabeth the 2nd Coronation Medal with MOUNT EVEREST EXPEDITION engraved on the rim. Hillary and Hunt were knighted by Queen Elizabeth, while Tenzing received George Medal from the British Government for his efforts with the expedition. It has been said that Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru refused permission for Tenzing to be knighted.
Edmund Hillary married Louise Mary Rose in 1953, after the Everest expedition. He had three children on 1954, Peter Hillary, 1955, Sarah Hillary, and 1959, Belinda Hillary.
Hillary went on to climb ten other peaks in the Himalayas. He also reached the South Pole as part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, for which he led the New Zealand section, on January 4th, 1958. His party was the first to reach the Pole overland since 1912, and the first ever to do so using motor vehicles.
In 1977, he led a jet boat expedition, titled "Ocean to Sky," from the mouth of the Ganges River to its source. Between 1977 and 1979, Hillary commentated aboard several Antarctic sightseeing flights operated by Air New Zealand.
Sir Hillary was scheduled to commentate Air New Zealand Flight 901 in 1979, but had to pull out due to work commitments in the United States, and was replaced by his close friend Peter Mulgrew. The aircraft crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica, killing all 257 on board. Hillary later married Mulgrew's widow.
In 1985, Sir Hillary was appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to India and spent four and a half years based in New Delhi. In 1985 he accompanied Neil Armstrong in a small twin-engine ski plane over the Arctic Ocean and landed at the North Pole. He then became the first man to stand at both poles and on the summit of Everest.
Hillary was Knighted Commander of the Order of the British Empire on June 6th, 1953 Made member of the Order of New Zealand in 1987 Knighted of the Order of the Garter on April 22nd, 1995; and The Government of India bestowed on him its second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, after death, in 2008.
He was also awarded the Polar Medal for his part in the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, and the Order of the Gurkha Right Hand, 1st Class of the Kingdom of Nepal in 1953.
In 1992, Hillary appeared on the updated New Zealand $5 bill, making him the only New Zealander to appear on a banknote during his or her lifetime
To mark the 50th anniversary of the first successful trip to Mt. Everest, the Nepalese Government awarded honorary citizenship to Sir Hillary at a special Golden Jubilee celebration in Kathmandu. He was the first foreign national to receive that honor.
Two Antarctic features are named after Hillary. The Hillary Coast is a section of coastline south of Ross Island and north of the Shackleton Coast. It is formally recognized by New Zealand, the United States of America and Russia.
On March 31, 1975, Sir Hillary’s daughter, Belinda and her mother, Louise, died in a plane crash. He then married a second time to June Mulgrew in 1989. Sir Edmund Percival Hillary died on January 11th, 2008. He died because of a heart attack. He lived 88 years. June Mulgrew is still alive to this day and so are Hillary’s two remaining children, Peter and Sarah.
