Origins & Early Life

Catharine Jan Morris (born James Humphry Morris; 2 October 1926 – 20 November 2020) was a Welsh historian, author and travel writer. She was known particularly for the Pax Britannica trilogy (1968–1978), a history of the British Empire, and for portraits of cities, including Oxford, Venice, Trieste, Hong Kong and New York City. She published under her birth name until 1972, when she had gender reassignment surgery, transitioning from male to female. Morris was a member of the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition, which made the first ever confirmed ascent of the mountain.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She was the only journalist to accompany the expedition, climbing with the team to a camp at 22,000 feet, and using a prearranged code to send news of the successful ascent, which was announced in The Times on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, 2 June 1953. Morris was born in Clevedon, Somerset, on 2 October 1926. She was the youngest of three children of Walter Henry Morris (died 1938), an engineer from Monmouth, Wales, who never fully recovered after being gassed in the First World War. Her mother, née Enid Payne, was an English church organist who trained as a concert pianist...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Klug — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering biophysicist known for crystallographic electron microscopy and nucleic acid structure.
• Abdus Salam — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Alan Greenspan — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Influential American economist, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Albert Uderzo — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering French comic artist, co-creator of the iconic Astérix series.
• Alfred Worden — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): American astronaut and test pilot, famous for Apollo 15 lunar mission.
• Al-Suyuti — Shared historical date (10-02 · Born) (1445): Egyptian Sunni polymath, renowned for authorship across nearly all Islamic sciences.
• Asha Parekh — Shared historical date (10-02 · Born) (1942): Pioneering Indian actress, director, and producer with a four-decade career.
• Ancel Keys — Shared historical date (11-20 · Died) (2004): Pioneering physiologist who studied diet's impact on health, notably fat replacement.
• Barbara Hendricks — Shared historical date (11-20 · Born) (1948): Acclaimed American lyric soprano known for opera and jazz performances.
• 1926 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1926
• October 2 (10-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 2
• 2020 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2020
• November 20 (11-20) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 20