Edmund Percival Hillary Biography

Birth of Edmund Percival Hillary

Completes his first major climb, reaching the summit of Mount Oliver in the Southern Alps

Hillary is part of a British reconnaissance expedition to Everest led by Eric Shipton before joining the successful British attempt of 1953

Knighted shortly after the British-led Everest expedition arrives back in London

Reaches the South Pole as part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, for which he led the New Zealand section

Reaches the South Pole as part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, for which he led the New Zealand section

Reaches the South Pole as part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, for which he led the New Zealand section. First to reach the Pole since Amundsen in 1911 and Scott in 1912, the first motor vehicles to reach the Pole

Takes part in the 1975 general election, as a member of the "Citizens for Rowling" campaign

Takes part in the 1975 general election, as a member of the "Citizens for Rowling" campaign

Leads a jetboat expedition, titled "Ocean to Sky", from the mouth of the Ganges River to its source

Appointed New Zealand High Commissioner (Ambassador) to India, Nepal and Bangladesh, and spends four and a half years based in New Delhi

Accompanies Neil Armstrong in a small twin-engined ski plane over the Arctic Ocean and lands at the North Pole becoming the first man to stand at both poles and on the summit of Everest

Created a member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ)

Awarded the Polar Medal for his part in the Commonwealth Tran-Arctic Expedition

Awarded the Polar Medal for his part in the Commonwealth Tran-Arctic Expedition

Created a Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG)

Committed to humanitarian work among the Sherpas through his Himalayan Trust and is made an honorary Nepalese citizen

Travels to Antarctica to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Scott Base

Created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

Calls for the British Government to contribute to the upkeep of Scotts and Shackletons huts

Hillarys death is announced by New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark during which she states that his passing was a "profound loss to New Zealand". Death of Edmund Percival Hillary