Sir Edmund Hillary

Born: 1919 New Zealand

Died: 2008

An explorer and mountain climber, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, he was the first to climb to the summit of Mount Everest (May 29, 1953), the tallest mountain in world.

Followed in father’s footsteps, became a beekeeper, allowing him time to climb mountains in winter.

In 1958, five years after his famous climb of Everest, led a successful expedition to the South Pole.

In 1985, he & Neil Armstrong flew a small plane to the North Pole. Became first living New Zealander to appear on a bank note in 1990.

Said: “Motivation is the single most important factor in any sort of success.”