Learn why the highest peak in the world was named after George Everest

CAIRO – 5 July 2022: British Colonel Sir George Everest was one of the most prominent figures in India, who made many contributions to the field of geography there. He was Surveyor General of India and was born on July 4, 1790.

Not much is known about Everest's life, but he is famous for his ingenuity in the field of mathematics and astronomy.

Everest surveyed the signal line extending from Calcutta to Varanasi, which covers nearly 400 miles (640 km). While working as a surveyor general in India, he succeeded in completing the arch extending from Kanyakumari to the northern frontier of British India in 1841.

Everest received a medal from the Royal Astronomical Society. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Asian Society and the Royal Geographical Society and was promoted to colonel in 1854. He received the rank of captain in February 1861.

In addition, the Royal Geographical Society honored Everest by naming the highest peak in the world after his name. Rising to about 9 km above sea level, it is one of the mountains that make up the Himalayan mountain ranges, on the borders of China (Tibet), Nepal (Sagarmatha) and northern India.

During his life, he suffered from several diseases, the first of which was malaria in 1820, which necessitated a period of convalescence he spent in the Cape of Good Hope. After that, Everest suffered from poor health as the effects of fever and rheumatism left him half paralyzed for 5 years. Everest heroically overcame his illnesses to resume his work again, until he passed away on December 1, 1866.