Hugh Munro
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh Thomas Munro, 4th Baronet of Linderits (1856–1919) was a Scottish
mountaineer
who is best known for his list of mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet (914.4 m), known as the Munro
s.
Munro was the fifth child of Sir Campbell Munro, 3rd Baronet and also a grandson of Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet of Linderits.
Munro was born in London but was brought up in Scotland on the family estate of Lindertis near Kirriemuir
in Angus
. He was an avid hillwalker, and was a founder member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club
in 1889. His list of 3,000-foot mountains 1891 was published in the 6th issue of the Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal in 1891. This list caused much surprise in mountaineering circles, as until his list was produced many thought that the number of mountains exceeding this height was around 30, rather than the nearly 300 that he listed. These mountains are now known as Munro
s and it is a popular hobby to attempt to climb them all.
Hugh Munro never completed his own list. Of his original list he failed to climb one mountain in the Cairngorms
(Carn Cloich-Mhuillin), which he was saving to be his last. At the time of his death he had produced a revised version of the list, adding Carn an Fhidhleir, which he had also yet to climb. Sir Hugh is often said to have missed out the Inaccessible Pinnacle
of Sgurr Dearg, on the Isle of Skye, a peak which there is no record of his having climbed. However, the "In Pinn" was not included in either of the lists produced during his lifetime, despite being several feet higher than Sgurr Dearg, which was included. The first person to achieve the feat of climbing all of the mountains on Munro's list is generally regarded as being the Rev. A. E. Robertson in 1901. However Robertson is known not to have climbed all of the peaks either, as he did not climb The Inaccessible Pinnacle or Ben Wyvis
.
In addition to his mountaineering interests, Munro was well travelled and made trips to Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.
He was too old at 58 for military service during World War I
but did volunteer work with the Red Cross and cared for injured soldiers in Malta
in 1915. After a spell of illness, he rejoined the Red Cross, running a canteen for Allied forces near the front line in France. He died in 1919 aged 63, during the influenza epidemic that followed the war.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mountaineer
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...
who is best known for his list of mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet (914.4 m), known as the Munro
Munro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
s.
Munro was the fifth child of Sir Campbell Munro, 3rd Baronet and also a grandson of Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet of Linderits.
Munro was born in London but was brought up in Scotland on the family estate of Lindertis near Kirriemuir
Kirriemuir
Kirriemuir, sometimes called Kirrie, is a burgh in Angus, Scotland.-History:The history of Kirriemuir extends to the early historical period and it appears to have been a centre of some ecclesiastical importance...
in Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
. He was an avid hillwalker, and was a founder member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club
Scottish Mountaineering Club
The Scottish Mountaineering Club is Scotland's second oldest mountaineering club. Founded in 1889, in Glasgow, the private club, with about 400 members, publishes guidebooks and runs a list of Munroists.-History:At the time of the club's founding there were a number of experienced Alpinists...
in 1889. His list of 3,000-foot mountains 1891 was published in the 6th issue of the Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal in 1891. This list caused much surprise in mountaineering circles, as until his list was produced many thought that the number of mountains exceeding this height was around 30, rather than the nearly 300 that he listed. These mountains are now known as Munro
Munro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
s and it is a popular hobby to attempt to climb them all.
Hugh Munro never completed his own list. Of his original list he failed to climb one mountain in the Cairngorms
Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain of the same name - Cairn Gorm.-Name:...
(Carn Cloich-Mhuillin), which he was saving to be his last. At the time of his death he had produced a revised version of the list, adding Carn an Fhidhleir, which he had also yet to climb. Sir Hugh is often said to have missed out the Inaccessible Pinnacle
Inaccessible Pinnacle
Sgurr Dearg is a mountain in the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is topped by the Inaccessible Pinnacle , a fin of rock measuring 150 feet along its longest edge...
of Sgurr Dearg, on the Isle of Skye, a peak which there is no record of his having climbed. However, the "In Pinn" was not included in either of the lists produced during his lifetime, despite being several feet higher than Sgurr Dearg, which was included. The first person to achieve the feat of climbing all of the mountains on Munro's list is generally regarded as being the Rev. A. E. Robertson in 1901. However Robertson is known not to have climbed all of the peaks either, as he did not climb The Inaccessible Pinnacle or Ben Wyvis
Ben Wyvis
Ben Wyvis is a mountain located in Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty, Highland, in northern Scotland, north-west of Dingwall. It forms an undulating ridge running roughly north-south for about 5 km, the highest summit of which is Glas Leathad Mòr...
.
In addition to his mountaineering interests, Munro was well travelled and made trips to Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.
He was too old at 58 for military service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
but did volunteer work with the Red Cross and cared for injured soldiers in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in 1915. After a spell of illness, he rejoined the Red Cross, running a canteen for Allied forces near the front line in France. He died in 1919 aged 63, during the influenza epidemic that followed the war.