Peter Mulgrew
Encyclopedia
Peter David Mulgrew was a New Zealand
mountaineer, yachtsman and businessman. He died in the crash of the ill-fated Air New Zealand Flight 901
, an Antarctic sightseeing flight that slammed into Mount Erebus
, killing all 257 on board. He was a commentator on the flight, having replaced his close friend Sir Edmund Hillary
, who was on a scheduled speaking tour of the United States
. In 1989 his widow, June, married Hillary.
Mulgrew was born in Lower Hutt
to boilermaker William John Mulgrew and woollen industry worker Edith Mulgrew (née Matthews). He attended the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College. He served in the Royal New Zealand Navy
for eleven years, including service on a frigate in the Korean War
. On 20 September 1952, in Wellington
, he married June Martha Anderson. They had two daughters, Kate and Robyn.
He embarked on several expeditions: the 1956-58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition
that went to the South Pole
(on which he served as radio operator), the 1960-61 Himalayan
scientific and mountaineering expedition (on which he suffered pulmonary edema
at 21,000 feet and later lost both feet to frostbite
), a 1964 Himalayan schoolhouse expedition with Hillary and a 1966 Himalayan hospital expedition. He also climbed in the Swiss Alps
, ascending the Matterhorn
.
He represented New Zealand in the world One Ton
yachting championships in Sydney in 1972 and sailed around Cape Horn
the next year.
He was group general manager of Alex Harvey Industries, Auckland and served on the boards of AHI Aluminium and elsewhere. Outside of commerce, he was a member of the Himalayan Trust Board and the Spirit of Adventure Trust Board.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
mountaineer, yachtsman and businessman. He died in the crash of the ill-fated Air New Zealand Flight 901
Air New Zealand Flight 901
Air New Zealand Flight 901 was a scheduled Air New Zealand Antarctic sightseeing flight that operated between 1977 and 1979, from Auckland Airport to Antarctica and return via Christchurch...
, an Antarctic sightseeing flight that slammed into Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus in Antarctica is the southernmost historically active volcano on Earth, the second highest volcano in Antarctica , and the 6th highest ultra mountain on an island. With a summit elevation of , it is located on Ross Island, which is also home to three inactive volcanoes, notably Mount...
, killing all 257 on board. He was a commentator on the flight, having replaced his close friend Sir Edmund Hillary
Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE , was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest – see Timeline of climbing Mount Everest...
, who was on a scheduled speaking tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1989 his widow, June, married Hillary.
Mulgrew was born in Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
to boilermaker William John Mulgrew and woollen industry worker Edith Mulgrew (née Matthews). He attended the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College. He served in the Royal New Zealand Navy
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
for eleven years, including service on a frigate in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. On 20 September 1952, in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, he married June Martha Anderson. They had two daughters, Kate and Robyn.
He embarked on several expeditions: the 1956-58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition
Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition
The 1955–58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition was a Commonwealth-sponsored expedition that successfully completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica, via the South Pole...
that went to the South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
(on which he served as radio operator), the 1960-61 Himalayan
Himalayan
Himalayan can refer to:* The Himalayas mountain range* Himalayan , the type of cat* List of rabbit breeds#Himalayan, the breed of rabbit* The Himalayans, a band...
scientific and mountaineering expedition (on which he suffered pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema , or oedema , is fluid accumulation in the air spaces and parenchyma of the lungs. It leads to impaired gas exchange and may cause respiratory failure...
at 21,000 feet and later lost both feet to frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite is the medical condition where localized damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and those with large exposed areas...
), a 1964 Himalayan schoolhouse expedition with Hillary and a 1966 Himalayan hospital expedition. He also climbed in the Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
, ascending 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...
.
He represented New Zealand in the world One Ton
One Ton Cup
The One Ton Cup is a sailing trophy open to yachts that displace approximately one ton . It has been raced since 1899 and was awarded by Cercle de la Voile de Paris.From 1999 the Cup will be given to the Corel 45 Class World Championship....
yachting championships in Sydney in 1972 and sailed around Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
the next year.
He was group general manager of Alex Harvey Industries, Auckland and served on the boards of AHI Aluminium and elsewhere. Outside of commerce, he was a member of the Himalayan Trust Board and the Spirit of Adventure Trust Board.
Books by Peter Mulgrew
- No Place for Men (Reed, Wellington, 1964, also 1965, 1975)
- I Hold the Heights (Doubleday, New York, 1965)
- Gentleman’s Magellan: A voyage of re-discovery around Cape Horn from notes by Peter Mulgrew, Ken Mulgrew's log and Wally Romanes' diary; edited by Bruce Harvey (Morris-Cobb, Auckland, 1974)