Charles Francis Meade (born 25 February 1881 – died 1975) was an
English mountaineer and author.
Early life
Born in England,
Meade was the only surviving child of the
Hon. Sir Robert Henry Meade and Caroline Georgiana Grenfell. His mother died shortly after his birth and his father before he reached the age of 17.
Climbing
Meade climbed extensively in the
Alps
The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
...
and the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...
, often accompanied by his guide, Pierre Blanc (d. 1966). In particular, he made a number of early attempts on
Kamet, camping overnight in 1913 at Meade’s Col, at a height of 7,138 metres. He was an original member of the
Mount Everest Committee.
Meade Nunatak, a hill in the
Antarctic
The Antarctic (, ; commonly ) is the polar regions of Earth, polar region of Earth that surrounds the South Pole, lying within the Antarctic Circle. It is antipodes, diametrically opposite of the Arctic region around the North Pole.
The Antar ...
, is also named after him.
Meade also developed the
Meade tent, a design which was extensively used by other climbers for a number of years and at the highest camp on the first ascent of Everest.
Personal life
Meade married Aileen Hilda Brodrick, the daughter of
St.John Brodrick (later Earl of Midleton), by whom he had three daughters and a son. They lived in
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
, at Pen-y-Lan, near
Meifod.
Publications
* ''Approach to the Hills'' (
John Murray, London, 1940)
* ''High Mountains'' (Harvill, London, 1954)
References
English mountain climbers
English writers
1881 births
1975 deaths
20th-century English writers
{{Climbing-bio-stub