Everest

mount everest sir edmund hillary
Alfred Gregory / Royal Geographical Society

Summit
Born in Auckland on July 20, 1919, young Ed was smaller than most classmates at Tuakau Primary School, and there was no telling early on that he was destined for the kind of glory he would gain on Everest alongside Norgay.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.