Sir. Edmund Hillary

By Ms. Bailey & Mrs. Adams

Childhood• Edmund Percival Hillary was born on July 20, 1919 in

Auckland, New Zealand.• He was a very shy boy growing up. He spent much of his time

reading and dreaming about adventure.• When he was sixteen; on a school trip to Mount Ruapehu, his

love for mountaineering began. • He followed in his father’s footsteps to become a beekeeper.• During World War II he served in the New Zealand Air Force

for two years as a navigator.

Why this person is famous

• Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.

• The North Pole had been reached in 1909, the South Pole was reached in 1911, but Mount Everest remained unclimbed.

•

Adult Life• Ed Hillary married Louise Mary Rose

on September 3, 1953. He was so shy he had to ask his future mother-in-law to propose for him.

• Edmund and Louise had three children together: Peter, Sarah, and Belinda.

• Louise and Belinda were tragically killed in a plane crash in 1975.

• Peter has followed in his father’s footsteps to be an avid mountain climber, also having reached the summit of Everest.

Interesting Facts• I am most impressed with his

care and respect for the people of Nepal.

• He has spent much of his life with the Himalayan Trust. He founded this organization to help provide hospitals and schools to the remote regions of the Himalayas.

• He is now a retired beekeeper still living in his native country of New Zealand.

Character Traits• Adventurous

– Edmund is adventurous because he was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. He also went on many other adventures after climbing Everest.

• Thoughtful– Edmund is thoughtful because when

he came back from Everest he spent the rest of his life helping the people of Nepal.

Biography Time Line

July 20, 1919 May 29, 1953 Sept. 3, 1953 1975 1950-present Jan. 11, 2008

Edmund Percival

Hillary was born in

Auckland, New Zealand.

Along with Tenzing Norgay

became the first person to

reach the summit of Mt.

Everest at 11:30 a.m.

Edmund married

Louise Mary Rose. They

had three children

Peter, Sarah, and Belinda

Edmund lost his wife,

Louise, and daughter,

Belinda, in a plane crash in

Nepal.

Edmund has devoted much

of his life to helping the Nepalese people, building

hospitals and schools in

remote Himalayan

villages

Sir Edmund Percival

Hillary died from heart

failure at 88 years old.

Sir. Edmund Hillary