Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer who first reached the summit of Mt. Everest, passed away on January 11, 2008 at the age of 88. He was born on July 20, 1919 in Auckland, New Zealand. The adventurous spirit that led him to Mt. Everest began at a young age, when he helped his father survey land in the foothills of Auckland. Hillary’s celebrated ascent of Everest, the world's tallest mountain, took place on May 29, 1953, with a team of Sherpas led by Tenzing Norgay. The expedition was part of a British-led assault on the peak made possible by advances in hiking equipment and climbing techniques. He was present at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and was later knighted for his mountaineering accomplishments. He was highly active in conservation efforts, and was the leader of numerous expeditions throughout the Himalayas. In addition to his accomplishments in the world of mountaineering, Hillary also journeyed to the South Pole in 1958 as part of a Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. His contributions to the fields of exploration and conservation have been remembered with a variety of awards and memorials throughout the world.