Louisa Hamilton was the 30-year-old daughter of a member of parliament, Lord Claud Hamilton,
Louisa |
and she married John Tyndall in 1876. She was a descendent of John Hamilton, an Irish Peer whose family owned extensive land in Donegal, Tyrone and Derry/Londonderry.
In Louisa, Tyndall had found someone to share his love of the Alps and after their wedding they went to Bel Alp in Switzerland where they spent two months.
'Their affectionate behaviour in public...caused Meta Brevoort (an American mountaineer) to remark that they were seen "kissing on one of the spurs of the Sparrenhorn". (The ascent of John Tyndall ; Roland Jackson)
They took walking trips on the Aletsch glacier, climbed the Sparrenhorn and, notably the Aletschorn (4,195m - the second highest in the Bernese Oberland). This was one of the earliest ascents by a woman. Later she went on to Pontresina and climbed Piz Languard (3,262m) without him and explored the Roseg Glacier there.
Tyndalls at Bel Alp Hotel |
It was Louisa who caused John Tyndall's death through an accidental overdose of chloral hydrate. Some time after this she arranged the placement of a stone monument to his memory close to their chalet at Alp Lusgen.
Piz Languard (Wikipedia) |
Tyndall's chalet today. (Courtesy Blatten) |
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