Edmund Hillary

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hillary became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school. He made his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a navigator during World War II and was wounded in an accident. Prior to the Everest expedition, Hillary had been part of the British reconnaissance expedition to the mountain in 1951 as well as an unsuccessful attempt to climb Cho Oyu in 1952. In 1953, he and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest on 29 May. As part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Hillary reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He subsequently reached the North Pole, making him the first person to reach both poles and summit Everest.

Reader's Guide

Edmund Hillary's significance extends beyond his historic Everest ascent. Beginning in 1960, Hillary devoted himself to assisting the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he established. His efforts are credited with the construction of many schools and hospitals in Nepal. He also served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and concurrently as Ambassador to Nepal from 1985 to 1988. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. His honours included the Order of the Garter in 1995, and upon his death in 2008 he was given a state funeral in New Zealand.

Did You Know?

• Hillary was wounded in an accident while serving as a navigator in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.
• He made his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier.
• Hillary reached the South Pole overland in 1958 as part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
• He was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles and summit Everest.
• Time named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some people believe that Edmund Hillary was a professional mountaineer or guide by trade, but the facts show he also served as a New Zealand High Commissioner and Ambassador later in life. Another common misconception is that he was solely responsible for the first Everest ascent, when in fact he and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit together as a team. Additionally, some might think his mountaineering achievements ended with Everest, but he later became the first person to reach both the North and South Poles and summit Everest.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

Edmund Hillary’s legacy endures not just because he stood atop the world’s highest peak, but because he used that fame to serve others—as a diplomat and philanthropist, he helped build schools and hospitals in Nepal. His life reminds us that great achievement can be paired with humility and a commitment to giving back, making him a role model long after his historic climb.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"My solar plexus was tight with fear as I ploughed on. Halfway up I stopped, exhausted. I could look down 10,000 feet between my legs, and I have never felt more insecure. Anxiously I waved Tenzing up to me." — Edmund Hillary "I am hell-bent for the South Pole — God willing and crevasses permitting." — Edmund Hillary "Better if he had said something natural like, "Jesus, here we are." — Edmund Hillary "Reaching the summit of a mountain gives great satisfaction, but nothing for me has been more rewarding in life than the result of our climb on Everest, when we have devoted ourselves to the welfare of our Sherpa friends." — Edmund Hillary