Tenzing Norgay, (Nepalese: “Wealthy-Fortunate Follower of Religion”)Norgay also spelled Norkey or Norkay, original name Namgyal Wangdi, (born May 15, 1914, Tshechu, Tibet [now Tibet Autonomous Region, China]—died May 9, 1986, Darjeeling [now Darjiling], West Bengal, India), Tibetan mountaineer who in 1953 became, with Edmund (later Sir Edmund) Hillary of New Zealand, the first person to set foot on the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak (29,035 feet [8,850 metres]; see Researcher’s Note: Height of Mount Everest).

Britannica Quiz Exploring China: Fact or Fiction? China has 22 provinces.

It is not known exactly when, how, or under what conditions the young Namgyal Wangdi came to live in the Khumbu region of Nepal (near Everest), nor is it known when he took the name Tenzing Norgay. Among the ethnic Sherpas, immigrant Tibetans such as Tenzing are known as Khambas and have low status and little or no wealth. Tenzing worked for several years for an affluent family in Khumjung, and, as a teen, he ran away from difficult conditions and settled in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. At age 19, having married a Sherpa, he was chosen as a porter for his first expedition; in 1935 he accompanied Eric Shipton’s reconnaissance expedition of Everest. In the next few years he took part in more Everest expeditions than any other climber.

Hillary, Sir Edmund; Norgay, Tenzing Edmund (later Sir Edmund) Hillary and Tenzing Norgay preparing to depart on their successful summit climb of Mount Everest, May 29, 1953; photograph by W.G. Lowe. The Granger Collection, New York

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary Tenzing Norgay (right) and Edmund Hillary showing the kit they wore to the top of Mount Everest, June 26, 1953. AP Images

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 Southeast 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 Star of Nepal (Nepal Tara). Man of Everest (1955; also published as Tiger of the Snows), 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. Tenzing: Hero of Everest (2003), a biography of Tenzing Norgay by mountaineer and journalist Ed Douglas, is a sensitive appreciation of his life, achievements, and disappointments.