Horace-Benedict de Saussure, 1740–1799
The young Horace-B ?n ?dict de Saussure visited Chamonix in 1760 and developed the ambition to stand on top of Mont Blanc or at least to be responsible for it being climbed. For this purpose he posted notices in all the surrounding villages offering a reward to the first person to reach the summit of the “Great White Mountain” at 4,807 metres, but it would be twenty-six years before anyone claimed the prize. In 1785 he had a small hut built…
