John Hunt, Baron Hunt

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For other persons named John Hunt, see John Hunt (disambiguation).

Brigadier Henry Cecil John Hunt, Baron Hunt KG, CBE, DSO, PC (June 22, 1910 - November 8, 1998) was a British military officer who is best known as the leader of the 1953 expedition to Mount Everest. Hunt was born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England and was educated at Marlborough College there. Hunt was awarded the King's Gold Medal and the Anson Memorial Sword as the result of his studies.

As a child, Hunt spent much holiday time in the Alps, learning some of the mountaineering skills he would later hone while taking part in several expeditions in the Himalaya while serving in India.

In 1931, Hunt returned to India as an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Upon returning to England in 1940, Hunt became chief instructor at the Commando Mountain and Snow Warfare School. In 1944, Hunt received the Distinguished Service Order after he rejoined the King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Sir John Hunt was one of the few Westerners who probably had an encounter with the alleged Abominable Snowman or Yeti of the Himalaya. One night, while camping in the Himalaya, he sensed the presence of a large animal near his tent. When he went out to investigate, he vaguely saw a large creature scurrying away. When later asked why he had not shot at it, he replied,"that would have been murder." On another occasion, in 1951, Hunt's team actually found and photographed mysterious footprints in the mountain snow allegedly made by the yeti.

In 1953, Hunt was chosen as the leader of the ninth British expedition to Mount Everest and the first to make a successful ascent. Hunt selected two climbing pairs to attempt to reach the summit. The first pair turned back after becoming exhausted high on the mountain. The next day, the expedition made its second and final assault on the summit with its fittest and most determined climbing pair. The summit was eventually reached at 11:30 am on May 29, 1953 by the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal climbing the South Col Route. News of the expedition's success reached London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.

Returning to Kathmandu a few days later, they discovered that Hillary was made a KBE, and Hunt a Knight Bachelor for their efforts.

Following his retirement from the army. Sir John Hunt became the first Director of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. In 1966 he was made a life peer as Baron Hunt, of Llanvair Waterdine in the County of Salop. He also became the first Chairman of the Parole Board.

He was created a Knight of the Garter in 1979.

Lord Hunt died in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire aged 88 of natural causes.