Benham, Gertrude (1867–1938)

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Benham, Gertrude (1867–1938)

British mountain climber. Born 1867 in England; died at sea in 1938, while returning from Africa.

Spent more than 30 years walking the world, including 17 visits to Switzerland, a walk across South America from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires (1908), and a walk across Africa from west to east (1913); climbed more than 300 peaks of 10,000 feet or over; was the 1st woman to conquer the 19,700-foot Kilimanjaro (1909).