When was Edmund Hillary born?

Edmund Hillary was born on 20 July 1919 in Auckland.

What positions has Edmund Hillary held?

Positions held by Edmund Hillary include: ambassador of New Zealand to Nepal.

Where did Edmund Hillary study?

Edmund Hillary was educated at Auckland Grammar School, University of Auckland.

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Edmund Hillary

एडमण्ड हिलारी

New Zealand mountaineer and philanthropist (1919–2008)

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Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, he and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, which was led by John Hunt. From 1985 to 1988, he served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and concurrently as Ambassador to Nepal.

Quick facts

Born: 20 July 1919 wd
Place of birth: Auckland wd
Died: 11 January 2008 wd
Place of death: Auckland wd
Citizenship: New Zealand wd
Occupation: explorer, philanthropist, beekeeper, diplomat, autobiographer, mountaineer wd
Education: Auckland Grammar School, University of Auckland wd
Spouse: June Hillary, Louise Mary Rose wd

Positions held wd

ambassador of New Zealand to Nepal

Awards wd

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Knight of the Garter (1995)
Polar Medal
Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu (1953)
Patron’s Medal (1958)
Padma Vibhushan
Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations (1955)
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
1939–45 Star
Padma Bhushan
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
Order of New Zealand (1987)
Commander of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
honorary doctor of the University of Waikato (2006)
Livingstone Medal

About

Hillary became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school. He made his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a navigator during World War II and was wounded in an accident. Prior to the Everest expedition, 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, Hillary reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He subsequently reached the North Pole, making him the first person to reach both poles and summit Everest. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

Beginning in 1960, Hillary devoted himself to assisting the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he established. His efforts are credited with the construction of many schools and hospitals in Nepal. Hillary had numerous honours conferred upon him, including the Order of the Garter in 1995. Upon his death in 2008, he was given a state funeral in New Zealand.

In the news All news →

‘Tenzing’ puts the Sherpa at the centre of the Everest story27 September 2026

Questions

When was Edmund Hillary born?: Edmund Hillary was born on 20 July 1919 in Auckland.
What positions has Edmund Hillary held?: Positions held by Edmund Hillary include: ambassador of New Zealand to Nepal.
Where did Edmund Hillary study?: Edmund Hillary was educated at Auckland Grammar School, University of Auckland.

Sources

Last updated 31 October 2026 · facts checked 4 November 2026

Cite this page

"Edmund Hillary". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/edmund-hillary. Retrieved 4 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Edmund Hillary, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Edmund Hillary, c. 1953, autograph removed.jpg — Photographer unidentified. Retouched by TimofKingsland ., Public domain.

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