Sir Thomas Munro

The challenge of climbing all of Scotland’s mountains over 3,000 feet is a popular leisure activity for hillwalkers. It became a thing thanks to Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet, and his surname became the word to describe summits of this size.

Munro was born in London but was raised on his family’s country estate at Lindertis, near Kirriemuir, Angus. His love of outdoor pursuits led him to become a founding member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club in 1889 and two years later he published his list of all mountains over 3,000 feet in the club’s journal.

This caused surprise amongst some of his peers because the size of the list, with its 283 entries, was much bigger than ever imagined. The compilation work started in the club’s founding year with Munro reaching the top of 42 mountains during this phase whilst the others were confirmed for the list by fellow members.

He would later go on to ascend almost all the mountains and the greater number of mountain tops, despite developing arthritis in his late thirties. Outwith mountaineering Munro was a keen traveller having journeyed to Europe, North America, South Africa and Asia.

He was too old for military service in World War One, but he volunteered with the Red Cross and was stationed for periods in Malta and Tarascon in France, where he died in 1919 during the post-war influenza pandemic.