Edward Oliver Wheeler
| Edward Oliver Wheeler | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 18, 1890 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | March 19, 1962 (aged 71) Vernon, British Columbia, Canada |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/branch | Corps of the Royal Engineers |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Awards | He was knighted in 1943, Military Cross |
| Relations | Arthur Oliver Wheeler, father |
| Other work | mountain climber, surveyor |
Sir Edward Oliver Wheeler MC (April 18, 1890 – March 19, 1962) was a Canadian surveyor, mountain climber and soldier. Wheeler participated in the first topographical survey of Mount Everest in 1921. As Brigadier in the British Army was appointed Surveyor General of India in 1941. He was knighted for the work he did surveying India. He was an accomplished mountain climber and on the 1921 expedition was one of the team to reach the 7000-metre North Col.
Oliver Wheeler came from a family of geologists. His father, Arthur Oliver Wheeler was designated a National Historic Person in 1995. His father, a Dominion Land Surveyor, co-founded the Alpine Club of Canada and mapped British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains and the British Columbia-Alberta border. His mother was Clara (née Macoun), daughter of Canadian botanist John Macoun.
Wheeler attended Trinity College at Port Hope, Ontario. He studied at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1907. He commissioned in the corps of the Royal Engineers.
During the First World War he served with King George's Sappers and Miners in France. Indian Expedition Force, 1915 and with the forces in Mesopotamia campaign 1916-18. He was awarded the Military Cross, a membership in the French Legion of Honour.
In 1919, he was seconded to the Survey of India. During this time he was a member of the 1921 Everest reconnaissance expedition, using photographic surveying techniques. His exploration of the East Rongbuk glacier led him on 3 August 1921 to realise that this provided the key to a viable route to the summit of Everest. He was one of the climbing team to reach the North Col.
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