EDMUND PERCIVAL HILLARY (July 20, 1919-January 11,2008) -Mountaineer, explorer,

philanthropist. -The first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mt .Everest. -At the
age of 20, Hillary’s first major climb was Mt. Olivier in New Zealand. -He served in the royal New
Zealand air force as a navigator during World War II. -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. -As part of the commonwealth trans-Antarctic expedition he reached the
South Pole overland in 1958. -He subsequently reached the North Pole, making him the first
person reach both poles and summit Everest.