Douglas Robert Hadow

Douglas Robert Hadow (30 May 1846[1][2] – 14 July 1865) was a British novice mountaineer who died on the descent after the first ascent of the Matterhorn.

In 1865, at the age of nineteen, Hadow undertook his first trip to the Alps as a protégé to Charles Hudson, a clergyman from Skillington in Lincolnshire, and a leading advocate of guideless climbing.

In a piece published by The Times shortly after the accident, he wrote: The general slope of the mountain at this part was less than forty degrees, and snow had consequently accumulated and filled up the irregularities of the rock face, leaving only occasional fragments projecting here and there.

It is only fair to say that the difficulty experienced by Mr. Hadow at this part arose, not from fatigue and lack of courage, but simply and entirely from want of experience.Hadow's slip on the descent of the mountain was the immediate cause of the accident.

The other three members of the party – Whymper and Swiss guides Peter Taugwalder and his son of the same name – were saved when the rope between them and Douglas snapped.

Hudson came next, then Douglas; none had time to react ...Hadow's body was recovered from the Matterhorn Glacier and he was buried at the churchyard in Zermatt.