Edward Whymper

Born in London in 1840, Edward Whymper first trained as a wood engraver and illustrator. A trip to the Alps in the 1860s changed his life, and he soon became one of the most famous mountaineers of his age.

He is most closely linked with the Matterhorn: in 1865 he was part of the first party to reach the summit. The achievement made him internationally known, though the descent ended in tragedy when four climbers were killed. Whymper later wrote about the expedition and other Alpine climbs in Scrambles Amongst the Alps, a book that became a classic of mountain literature.

Whymper did not stop with the Alps. He explored Greenland and made major journeys in the Andes of Ecuador, where he climbed high peaks and gathered observations on geography, geology, and altitude. Alongside his adventurous life, he remained a skilled visual artist, and his books are remembered for both their vivid storytelling and their illustrations.