Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, born on 7 March 1944 in Windsor, holds the unique distinction of inheriting a baronetcy at birth following the death of his father. A career marked by endurance and physical challenge, he transitioned from a military background to establishing several records in polar exploration and global navigation through arduous surface-based expeditions.
Military Service and Early Life
Educated at Sandroyd School and Eton College, Fiennes later attended the Mons Officer Cadet School after failing to enter the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1963, he joined the Royal Scots Greys, eventually serving with the Special Air Service. His time in the British Army included a period seconded to the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces, where he commanded a reconnaissance platoon during the Dhofar War and received decorations for his service before leaving the military in 1971.
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Fiennes gained recognition for the Transglobe Expedition, which took place between 1979 and 1982. This journey circumnavigated the globe via the polar axis using only surface transport. During this mission, he and Charles R. Burton completed a 3,000-mile open boat transit through the Northwest Passage. In 1993, he partnered with Mike Stroud to conduct the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent, a journey lasting 93 days.
Athletics and Endurance
In 2003, four months after undergoing a double coronary artery bypass, Fiennes joined Stroud for the Land Rover 7x7x7 Challenge. The pair completed seven marathons across seven continents in seven days, raising funds for the British Heart Foundation. Despite significant injuries throughout his career, including frostbite that necessitated the self-amputation of fingertips, he continued to participate in extreme physical challenges, including reaching the summit of Mount Everest in 2009 at age 65.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 March 1944, Windsor
- Military Rank: Lieutenant
- Education: Eton College, Mons Officer Cadet School
- Awards: Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Polar Medal, Livingstone Medal
- Memberships: Travellers Club
- Expedition Focus: Land exploration
Questions readers ask
What military unit did Fiennes serve in after training at Mons?
He was granted a commission in the Royal Scots Greys and was later seconded to the Special Air Service.
Did Fiennes ever attempt to walk to the South Pole solo?
Yes, he attempted a solo walk in 1996 to benefit the Breast Cancer Campaign but was forced to abandon the mission due to a kidney stone attack.
Achievements
- Expeditions: posthumous birth
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Founder’s Medal
- Polar Medal
- Livingstone Medal
- Recorded as explorer, writer and athletics competitor
