Meta Brevoort
Encyclopedia
Marguerite "Meta" Brevoort (1825–1876), an American
mountain climber, spent her early years in a Paris
convent
school. She made a number of important ascents in the Alps
in the 1860s and 1870s, but was thwarted in her two greatest alpine ambitions: to be the first woman to climb the Matterhorn
, and the first person to climb the Meije
in the Dauphiné
. Brevoort's role-model and rival was Lucy Walker
, who began her considerable mountaineering
career at the age of 28, in 1859, and it was Walker who, hearing that Meta planned an expedition to the Matterhorn in 1871, quickly assembled a party that included the famous guide, Melchior Anderegg
, and made the summit a few days before Brevoort arrived in Zermatt
. In contrast to Walker, who always wore dresses, Brevoort was the first female mountaineer to wear trousers.
Meta Brevoort was the aunt of W. A. B. Coolidge
, whom she brought to Europe in 1865, when he was 15 years of age, and introduced to alpine climbing. Coolidge eventually became an outstanding mountaineer, with over 1,700 ascents in the Alps, and the greatest alpine historian of the Victorian
age. The two climbed together for over ten seasons, and were joined in many of their adventures by Tschingel
, (1865 – 1879), a small dog their guide Christian Almer gave to her nephew. Later, she would proudly refer to their canine companion as the only "Honorary Lady member of the Alpine Club
".
She and Coolidge journeyed to the Dauphiné several times in order to attempt the Meije, but encountered bad weather each trip. In 1876, she had her final opportunity for a first ascent, but, instead, stayed in the Oberland
in order to give more money to her nephew, to support his efforts in the range. A few months later she died.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mountain climber, spent her early years in a Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
school. She made a number of important ascents in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
in the 1860s and 1870s, but was thwarted in her two greatest alpine ambitions: to be the first woman to climb the Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
, and the first person to climb the Meije
Meije
La Meije is a mountain in the Massif des Écrins range, located at the border of the Hautes-Alpes and Isère départements. It overlooks the nearby village of La Grave, a mountaineering centre and ski resort, well-known for its off-piste and extreme skiing possibilities.La Meije is composed of three...
in the Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
. Brevoort's role-model and rival was Lucy Walker
Lucy Walker (climber)
Lucy Walker was a British mountaineer and the first woman to climb the Matterhorn.Miss Walker began her climbing rather modestly in 1858 when she was advised by her doctor to take up walking as a cure for rheumatism...
, who began her considerable mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
career at the age of 28, in 1859, and it was Walker who, hearing that Meta planned an expedition to the Matterhorn in 1871, quickly assembled a party that included the famous guide, Melchior Anderegg
Melchior Anderegg
Melchior Anderegg , from Zaun, Meiringen, was a Swiss mountain guide and the first ascensionist of many prominent mountains in the western Alps during the golden and silver ages of alpinism...
, and made the summit a few days before Brevoort arrived in Zermatt
Zermatt
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants....
. In contrast to Walker, who always wore dresses, Brevoort was the first female mountaineer to wear trousers.
Meta Brevoort was the aunt of W. A. B. Coolidge
W. A. B. Coolidge
William Augustus Brevoort Coolidge was an American historian, theologian and mountaineer.Coolidge was born in New York as the son of Frederic William Skinner Coolidge, a Boston merchant, and Elisabeth Neville Brevoort of the Netherlands. He studied history and law at St...
, whom she brought to Europe in 1865, when he was 15 years of age, and introduced to alpine climbing. Coolidge eventually became an outstanding mountaineer, with over 1,700 ascents in the Alps, and the greatest alpine historian of the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
age. The two climbed together for over ten seasons, and were joined in many of their adventures by Tschingel
Tschingel
The Tschingel is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
, (1865 – 1879), a small dog their guide Christian Almer gave to her nephew. Later, she would proudly refer to their canine companion as the only "Honorary Lady member of the Alpine Club
Alpine Club (UK)
The Alpine Club was founded in London in 1857 and was probably the world's first mountaineering club. It is UK mountaineering's acknowledged 'senior club'.-History:...
".
She and Coolidge journeyed to the Dauphiné several times in order to attempt the Meije, but encountered bad weather each trip. In 1876, she had her final opportunity for a first ascent, but, instead, stayed in the Oberland
Oberland
Oberland may refer to: Germany*Oberland am Rennsteig, Sonneberg, Thuringia, Germany*Vogtländisches Oberland, Greiz, Thuringia, Germany*In East Prussia, the Elbląg Canal was named Oberländischer KanalSwitzerland...
in order to give more money to her nephew, to support his efforts in the range. A few months later she died.