Edmund Hillary.

Edmund Percival Hillary

Edmund Hillary — Athlete

Born 20 Jul 1919 Tuakau, New Zealand

Died 11 Jan 2008 Auckland, New Zealand

Citizenship New Zealand

Would Be 106 yr If Living

7 min read

Reading time

1,400

Words

Apr 4, 2026

Published

12

Film credits

16

Books

16

Awards

TL;DR

On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to summit Mount Everest. Hillary worked as a beekeeper, served as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India from 1985 to 1988, and received the Order of the Garter. He died in 2008 at age 88.

Identity & family.

KIN · 6

Names, aliases, and relatives of Edmund Hillary — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Native Name Edmund Percival Hillary

Aliases Sir Edmund Hillary

PARENTS: Gertrude Clark Percival Augustus Hillary
SPOUSES: June Mulgrew Louise Mary Rose
CHILDREN: Peter Hillary Sarah Hillary

At a glance.

STATS

Edmund Hillary by the numbers — life, work, and family.

88 Years lived

12 Film credits

16 Books

16 Awards

2 Marriages

2 Children

Who was Edmund Hillary?

BIOGRAPHY

Edmund Hillary — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Edmund Percival Hillary was born on July 20, 1919, in Tuakau, New Zealand, to Percival Augustus Hillary and Gertrude Clark. After Auckland Grammar School, he attended the University of Auckland but left without a degree. His father was a beekeeper. Young Edmund worked in the apiary from 1936 to 1943 and again from 1951 to 1970.

Career

Hillary’s career peaked on May 29, 1953, when he and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest. He photographed Tenzing on the summit because Tenzing did not know how to use a camera. Both men later revealed in memoirs that Hillary stepped onto the summit first. Before Everest, Hillary worked as a beekeeper and served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II, earning the 1939-45 Star. After Everest, he led other expeditions and served as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal from 1985 to 1988.

Personal life

On September 3, 1953, Hillary married Louise Mary Rose. They had three children: Peter, Sarah, and Belinda. On May 31, 1975, Louise and Belinda died in a plane crash in Nepal. He married June Mulgrew on December 21, 1989. Hillary died of a heart attack on January 11, 2008, in Auckland.

Legacy

Everest made Hillary a national hero in New Zealand. He received the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1953, the Order of New Zealand in 1987, and the Order of the Garter in 1995. He also won the Polar Medal in 1958 and the Padma Bhushan from India. The Hillary family continues Himalayan philanthropy. New Zealand remembers him as a symbol of human achievement.

Filmography.

FILMS · 12

Browse the complete filmography of Edmund Hillary — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

Terra X History

2000
Movie

Beyond the Movie: the Return of the King

2003
TV

The Himalayas

1994
Movie

The Conquest of Everest

1953
Movie

The Race for Everest

2003
Movie

Everest: the Mystery of Mallory and Irvine

1999
Movie

The Dark Side of Everest

2003

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Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 16

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Edmund Hillary — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the Garter
Polar Medal
Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
Patron's Medal
Padma Vibhushan
Grande Médaille d'Or des Explorations
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
1939-45 Star
Padma Bhushan
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
Order of New Zealand
Commander of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
honorary doctor of the University of Waikato
Livingstone Medal
honorary doctor of Victoria University of Wellington

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 16

Edmund Hillary's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Man Against Nature

by Maurice Herzog et al.
Amazon

Nothing Venture, Nothing Win

by Sir Edmund Hillary
Amazon

Antarctica

by James Cook et al.
Amazon

View from the Summit

by Sir Edmund Hillary
Amazon

The Frontiers of Knowledge

by Isaac Asimov et al.
Amazon

High Adventure

by Sir Edmund Hillary
Amazon

The View from the Summit

by Sir Edmund Hillary

Could not load more books.

Did you know?

FACTS · 5

Little-known facts about Edmund Hillary — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, he was one of the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.
Appointed a KBE in 1953 and awarded the Order of New Zealand in 1987.
He has three children: Sarah, Peter, and Belinda. Belinda and her mother Louise died in a plane crash in May 1975.
He and Tenzing made the final assault on Everest as a team, and were reluctant to disclose which man was first to actually set foot on the peak. Hillary took photographs of Tenzing standing on the summit because Tenzing did not know how to use a camera. Both men eventually revealed in their memoirs that Hillary was the first to step onto the summit.
Worked as an apiarist from 1936 to 1943 and from 1951 to 1970. He also served as New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal from 1985 to 1988. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1995.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 36

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Edmund Hillary.

When was Edmund Hillary born?

Edmund Hillary was born on July 20, 1919. The location was Tuakau in the Auckland region of New Zealand.
Where was Edmund Hillary born?

He was born in Tuakau, which is a small town in the Auckland region of New Zealand.
When did Edmund Hillary die?

Edmund Hillary died on January 11, 2008, in Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of 88.
How did Edmund Hillary die?

He died of a heart attack in Auckland, New Zealand, on January 11, 2008.
How old was Edmund Hillary when he died?

He was 88 years old at the time of his death on January 11, 2008.
Where did Edmund Hillary die?

He died in Auckland, New Zealand.
What is Edmund Hillary's full name?

His full birth name is Edmund Percival Hillary. He was commonly known as Sir Edmund Hillary after his knighthood.
What nationality was Edmund Hillary?

Edmund Hillary was a New Zealand citizen. He was born and died in New Zealand.
Who were Edmund Hillary's parents?

His parents were Percival Augustus Hillary and Gertrude Clark. His father was a beekeeper.
Who was Edmund Hillary married to?

He was married twice: first to Louise Mary Rose from September 3, 1953, until her death on May 31, 1975, and then to June Mulgrew from December 21, 1989, until his death.
Did Edmund Hillary have children?

Yes, he had three children: Peter Hillary, Sarah Hillary, and Belinda Hillary. Belinda and her mother Louise died in a plane crash in 1975.
Where did Edmund Hillary go to school?

He attended Auckland Grammar School and later studied at the University of Auckland, though he did not complete a degree.
What awards did Edmund Hillary receive?

He received many awards, including the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1953, the Order of the Garter in 1995, the Polar Medal, the Order of New Zealand, and the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan from India.
How many awards did Edmund Hillary win?

He received 16 major awards, including honorary doctorates, medals, and knighthoods from various countries.
What is Edmund Hillary best known for?

He is best known for being one of the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, alongside Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
How tall was Edmund Hillary?

He was 6 feet 2 inches tall, which is approximately 1.88 meters.
Why is Edmund Hillary called Sir Edmund?

He was knighted in 1953 after the Everest ascent, becoming a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and thus entitled to use the title Sir.
What was Edmund Hillary's occupation before Everest?

Before Everest, he worked as a beekeeper apiarist from 1936 to 1943 and again from 1951 to 1970, following his father’s trade.
On what date did Edmund Hillary summit Everest?

He and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.
Who accompanied Edmund Hillary on the first Everest ascent?

He was accompanied by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Together they were the first to reach the summit.
Was Edmund Hillary the first person to step on the Everest summit?

According to both men’s memoirs, Hillary was the first to step onto the summit. He also took photographs of Tenzing on the summit.
What happened to Edmund Hillary's first wife and daughter?

His first wife Louise and their daughter Belinda died in a plane crash in Nepal on May 31, 1975.
What did Edmund Hillary do after climbing Everest?

He continued beekeeping, led other expeditions, and served as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal from 1985 to 1988.
What is the Order of the Garter?

The Order of the Garter is the highest order of knighthood in the United Kingdom. Edmund Hillary was appointed a Knight Companion of the Order in 1995.
Did Edmund Hillary serve in the military?

He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II and was awarded the 1939-45 Star.
What movies feature Edmund Hillary?

He appeared in the documentary The Conquest of Everest 1953 and in Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King 2003 as archive footage.
What is the Polar Medal?

The Polar Medal is awarded by the United Kingdom for outstanding service in polar exploration. Hillary received it in 1958 for his Antarctic expeditions.
What is the Padma Bhushan?

The Padma Bhushan is a civilian award from India. Hillary received it for his mountaineering achievements and humanitarian work.
When did Edmund Hillary become a KBE?

He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE in 1953, shortly after the Everest ascent.
When did Edmund Hillary receive the Order of New Zealand?

He was awarded the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest civilian honor, in 1987.
What was the name of Edmund Hillary's son?

His son is Peter Hillary, who also became a mountaineer and climber.
What was the name of Edmund Hillary's daughter?

He had two daughters: Sarah Hillary and Belinda Hillary who died in 1975.
How long did Edmund Hillary work as a beekeeper?

He worked as a beekeeper from 1936 to 1943 and again from 1951 to 1970, totaling about 26 years.
What is the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu?

It is a Nepalese order awarded to Hillary for his contributions to Nepal and mountaineering.
What is the Livingstone Medal?

The Livingstone Medal is awarded by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Hillary received it for his exploration achievements.
Did Edmund Hillary have any grandchildren?

The source does not provide information about his grandchildren, so it is not confirmed.

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Audited & updated by

Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on April 4, 2026

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