Whymper, Edward (1840-1911)

Four letters from Whymper: to Mr Cooper, commenting on a fatal mountaineering accident and blaming it on the "unfitness of Mr Hadow for the rock", 22 Jul 1865; to Mr Barnes regarding his drawings and any plans he proposes to lay before the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 7 Nov 1865; to Mr Dixon, asking for an introduction to the editor of the Athenaeum in order to correct some information in its article 'William the Conqueror's Oak', 11 Mar 1876; to "Alfred" regarding the things he has sent him, 7 Sep 1881.

1865-1881

4 letters

Chronological order

Purchased from Stevens, London, July 1930 (acc.56545); Purchased from Stevens, London, September 1930; Provenance details not recorded (acc.67430).

English illustrator, mountain climber, travel writer. Born London. Became interested in mountain climbing after being sent to Switzerland to make sketches of mountain scenery. In 1865, after six failed attempts, climbed the hitherto unscaled Matterhorn. The descent ended in a fall that killed four of the party of seven, including Mr Hadow, mentioned in one of the letters described here. Whymper made expeditions to Greenland and later to South America, where he participated (1880) in the first ascent of Chimborazo. He climbed other major Andean peaks, including Aconcagua and Tupungato.