Maurice Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson with his aeroplane, Ever Wrest, before his flight to India | |
| Born | 21 April 1898 Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK |
| Died | c. 31 May 1934 (aged 36) |
| Cause of death | Exhaustion |
| Occupation(s) | Aviator and soldier |
| Known for | Attempted solo ascent of Everest |
Maurice Wilson MC (21 April 1898 – c. 31 May 1934) was a British soldier, mystic, and aviator who is known for his ill-fated attempt to climb Mount Everest alone in 1934.[1][2]
Often characterised as "eccentric",[3] Wilson wished to climb Everest as a platform to promote his belief that the world's ills could be solved by a combination of fasting and faith in God. Despite his lack of mountaineering or flying experience, he succeeded in flying from Britain to India, surreptitiously entering Tibet and climbing as high as 6,920 metres (22,703 ft)[4] on Everest. However, Wilson died in his attempt, and his body was found the following year by a British expedition.
- ^ Unsworth, Walt (2000). Everest – The Mountaineering History (3rd ed.). Bâton Wicks. pp. 237–246. ISBN 978-1-898573-40-1.
- ^ Powter, Geoff (2006). Strange and Dangerous Dreams: The Fine Line Between Adventure and Madness. Mountaineers Books. pp. 175–197. ISBN 978-0-89886-987-3.
- ^ Unsworth, p.587
- ^ Krakauer, Jon (1997). Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. Macmillan Publishers. pp. 89–90. ISBN 978-0-333-69527-2.