TENZING NORGAY

(Nepalese Wealthy-fortunate Follower of Religion) born May 15, 1914, Solo Khumbu, Nepal died May 9, 1986, Darjeeling, India , Norgay also spelled Norkey or Norkay, original name Namgyal Wangdi Sherpa mountaineer who, with Edmund (later Sir Edmund) Hillary of New Zealand, was the first person to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak (29,035 feet [8,850 metres]). As a boy Tenzing ran away from his home in the district south of Everest, which is inhabited by Sherpas, a Tibetan people skilled in mountain climbing. He settled in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. In 1935 he accompanied Sir Eric Shipton's reconnaissance expedition of Everest as a porter. In the next few years he took part in more Everest expeditions than any other climber. After World War II he became a sirdar, or organizer of porters, and in this capacity accompanied a number of expeditions. In 1952 the Swiss made two attempts on the southern route up Everest, on both of which Tenzing was sirdar. He went as sirdar of the British Everest expedition of 1953 and formed the second summit pair with Hillary. From a tent at 27,900 feet (8,500 metres) on the southeastern ridge, they reached the summit at 11:30 AM on May 29. He spent 15 minutes there taking photographs and eating mint cake, and, as a devout Buddhist, he left an offering of food. After his feat he was regarded as a legendary hero by many Nepalese and Indians. His many honours included Britain's George Medal and the Nepal Tara. Man of Everest (American title, Tiger of the Snows, 1955), written in collaboration with James Ramsey Ullman, is an autobiography. After Everest (1978), as told to Malcolm Barnes, tells of his travels after the Everest ascent and his directorship of the Field Training Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, which the Indian government established in 1954.