QUICK FACTS

• First Ascent: Sir Edmund Hillary, along with Tenzing Norgay, was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.
• Humanitarian Work: Beyond his mountaineering achievements, Hillary dedicated much of his life to humanitarian work, especially in Nepal, where he helped build schools, hospitals, and infrastructure projects.
• New Zealand Icon: Hillary is considered a national hero in New Zealand, where he was born, and his face even appears on the country’s five-dollar bill.
• Exploration: Apart from Everest, Hillary led expeditions to other challenging peaks, including Antarctica’s South Pole.
• Legacy: The Edmund Hillary Trust, established by Hillary, continues its legacy by supporting conservation projects in the Himalayas and beyond.

Who Was he?

Sir Edmund Hillary was a pioneering New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist and, together with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, was the first climber confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. Born July 20, 1919, in Auckland, New Zealand, he left a legacy of great humanity.

Edmund Hillary’s Early Life

Sir Edmund Hillary grew up with a love of the outdoors and adventures in mind from his childhood. Having been brought up in Auckland for most of his childhood days, including roughing up in the countryside of New Zealand. At the age of 16, on a school trip to the circumference of Mount Ruapehu, he first summited the peak and my passion was born into mountaineering.

Edmund Hillary’s Journey

He chiseled his climb to the summit of Mount Everest with determination, persistence, and relentless zeal toward adventure.  He made the initial assault on Everest in 1951 with the British reconnaissance mission, which helped pave the way for successive attacks.  However, it was not until 1953 that his association with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, on a British-sponsored expedition, would sooner or later produce a landmark breakthrough.

The two men, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa – on the fateful day of May 29, 1953 – were on top of the world; ever since they were names to be written in the history of mountaineering.  Their climbing of Everest was a human effort to overcome human endurance, teamwork, and an urge to do something adventurous.

Personal Life

More than being a climber of mountains, Sir Edmund Hillary was a family man and a people person. He married Louise Mary Rose in 1953, with whom he had three children. But his efforts did not end with the climb of the mountain. He dedicated the remainder of his life to building schools, hospitals, and infrastructure for remote Himalayan communities.

Death and Legacy

Sir Edmund Hillary passed away on the 11th of January 2008, aged 88. For generations of people, he represents an inspiration to the call of adventure and humanitarian activities that will embed his humility, compassion, and dedication to improving the state of others in blessed memories forever. Sir Edmund Hillary remains a symbol of the indomitable human spirit—courage and resilience.

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