Sir Edmund Hillary timeline

On July 20, 1919, Edmund Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand. His father was Percival Hillary. His mother was Gertrude Hillary

1919

1919

1920

Hillary’s family moved to Tuakau, a smaller town south of Auckland. Edmund's father had been allocated eight acres of land as a returned soldier of the 15th Regiment.

1920

1935

1935

At the age of 16, Hillary went on a school trip to Mount Ruapehu and was exposed to climbing for the first time. He went on to attend Auckland University College, but dropped out after two years.

1939

Hillary completed his first major climb. He reached the peak of Mount Ollivier in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand with his friend Tenzing Norgay. The summit of Mount Ollivier has an elevation of 6,342 feet (1,933 meters).

1939

1943

Edmund Hillary joins the air force

1943

1945

Edmund Hillary is burnt in a boat accident

1945

1948

1948

Hillary climbed to the south ridge of Aoraki to Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. The official height is currently listed as 12,218 feet (3,724 meters.)

1949

Hillary went to Switzerland to climb in the Swiss Alps. It was there that he ascended Jungfrau (4,158 meters or 13,642 feet).

1949

1951

Hillary participated in a reconnaissance expedition to Mount Everest.

1951

1990

Hillary’s son Peter climbed to the summit of Mount Everest.

1990

1952

Hillary was part of the British team that tried unsuccessfully to climb the Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world at 26,864 feet above sea level.

1952

1953

On May 29, Hillary and Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

1953

1955-1958

1955-

1958

Hillary joined the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition to become the first group that crossed Antarctica over land, via the South Pole. Hillary was the first man to reach both of the poles of the Earth.

1960's

Returns to the Himalayas in search of the Yeti and sets up Himalayan Trust for charitable work in Nepal. The trust builds schools, hospitals and airfields.

1960's

1975

His wife Louise and his daughter Belinda were killed in an airplane crash.

1975

1985

Hillary was appointed the New Zealand High Commissioner to India.

1985

1977

1977

Hillary led a group of explorers to trace the route of the Ganges River from the Himalayas to the mouth of the river.

He founded the Himalayan Trust to finance humanitarian efforts for the Sherpas including building schools and hospitals and helping in conservation efforts.

1992

Hillary’s picture appears on the New Zealand five dollar note, making him the first New Zealander to appear on money during his lifetime.

1992

1986

Hillary's best friend and long time climbing partner - Tenzing Norgay - dies

1986

1989

Hillary married June Mulgrew.

1989

2007

2007

Visits Nepal and Antarctica to celebrate the 50th anniversary of New Zealand’s Scott Base scientific station.

2008

Dies age 88 in auckland city hospital aged 88. Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral is in Auckland