Henrik Sillem facts for kids
Hendrik "Henrik" Sillem (born August 12, 1866, in Amsterdam – died July 13, 1907, in Courmayeur, Italy) was a talented Dutch man. He was known for many things: he was a lawyer, a brave mountain climber, and a skilled sport shooter. He even won an Olympic medal!
Quick facts for kids Olympic medal record |
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|---|---|---|
| Men's Shooting | ||
| Bronze | 1900 Paris | 50 metre team pistol |
Early Life and Studies
Henrik Sillem was born in Amsterdam. His father, Johann Gottlieb Sillem, was a banker. His mother was Judith Catharina Henriette Hoeufft.
Henrik went to the University of Amsterdam. He studied law there. In 1891, he earned his degree as a Doctor of Law. His final paper was about how insurance companies deal with financial problems.
After finishing his studies, Henrik worked as a lawyer. He also advised people on legal matters. Sometimes, he worked as a public prosecutor in Amsterdam.
Olympic Medalist
Henrik Sillem loved shooting sports. With his friend Solko van den Bergh and a French friend, François Monod, he helped start the first "international shooting matches" in 1897. These big events took place in Lyon, France.
These matches were very important. They were the start of the shooting competitions held in Paris in 1900. These 1900 games are now seen as part of the early Olympic Games. Henrik competed with the Dutch pistol team. His team won a bronze medal, which is a great achievement!
A Passion for Mountaineering
Henrik Sillem was also a very adventurous mountain climber. When he was just 19 years old, he climbed the famous Matterhorn mountain. He climbed it from the difficult northern side.
He explored many high peaks around the world. In 1902, he reached a height of 6,400 meters (about 21,000 feet) on Mount Nun in Kashmir. In 1905, he climbed Aconcagua in the Andes mountains. This is the highest mountain outside of Asia!
Henrik also climbed in Antarctica. He reached the tops of Mount Kinsey and Mount Ellie there. In March 1906, he made the first climb up the West Ridge of Mount Cook in New Zealand. He did this with his guide, Peter Graham.
Sadly, Henrik Sillem passed away at the age of 40. In 1907, he fell while climbing down the Aiguille du Midi mountain. He was buried nearby in Courmayeur, Italy.
