Constance Barnicoat

Constance Barnicoat By Finley White

“We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the

wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.”

John Hope Franklin

The New Zealand Explorer of the

Century I chose Constance Barnicoat because she is a woman. She was one of the only woman I could find who was born in New Zealand and was an explorer. I read about and found her life very interesting. This Slide Show is why I think she should be “ The New Zealand Explorer of the Century.”

Her Family Constance Barnicoat was born on the 27

November 1872 in Richmond, Nelson, New Zealand. Her father was John Wallis Barnicoat and her mother Rebecca Lee Hodgson. She grew up like an only child as she was the youngest. Two of her siblings died when she was young.

Her Childhood Constance Barnicoat spent her childhood in

her families home, in Nelson. She grew up like an only child because she was the youngest of 7 siblings.

Her Education She went to school at Nelsons for girls from

1888 to 1889. Then she applied for a BA at Canterbury College. She was accepted and graduated in 1895. In 1897 she sailed to England for further training at the Metropolitan School for Shorthand and Languages in London where she won 1st prize in French and German.

Work She became the first official woman

shorthand reporter in 1896. Then she worked as a secretary for nearly 3 years for F.H.D Bell (1895-1897). In 1899 she was the interpreter for Hague Peace Conference.

Mountaineering During her 9 month stay in NZ she was one of

the 3 women to walk the Copland Pass near Mount Cook. Also, in 1905, she did the ascent of the Ailefroide in the Dauphiné Alps, France. She also did a 1907 trip to the Caucasus, and a 19 11 winter ascent of Switzerland's Grosser.

Marriage Constance Barnicoat married Julian Grande in

March 1911. They had no children in the marriage. They lived in Bern, Switzerland in 1913. And after World War 1, the Grandes moved to Geneva, Switzerland.

Her Death In 1915, a tumour was treated with new x-ray

treatment, but by 1922 it was clear Constance Barnicoat was not getting better. She died in Geneva on 16 September, 1922. Her grieving husband fulfilled her dying wish and travelled to New Zealand to meet her family and friends. He climbed a peak then named it peak Barnicoat.

What her explorations taught us about

She taught us to never give up. She was really amazing with languages and loved climbing mountains. That told us to live our dreams the way we wanted.

Other Interesting Facts She wore trousers instead of skirts and

preferred men’s boots to woman's. She believed in equality. She showed us to go for gold. You can do all of your dreams.

Bibliography • http://www.theprow.org.nz/constance-barnicoat/ • http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3b10/1 • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1872 • http://www.google.co.nz/ • http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/C

ORNWALL-TO-NZ/2008-04/1207031331

• http://thinkexist.com/quotation/we_must_go_beyond_textbooks-go_out_into_the/212410.html

“Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit” Frank Borman