An eastern Himalayan peak of 29,028 ft above sea level on the Tibet Nepal border ( in an area first designated chu-mu-lang-ma on a map of 1717)  was discovered to the world's highest mountain in 1852 by the Survey Department of the Government of India, from theodolite readings taken in 1849 and 1850.  In 1860 its height has computed to be 29,002 ft.  On July 25, 1973, the Chinese announced a height of 8,848.1 m or 29,029 ft 3 in.  In practice the altitude can only be justifies as 29,028 +-25 ft.  The 5 1/2 mile high peak was named Mt Everest after Sir George Everest (1790-1866), formerly Surveyor-General of India.  Other names for Everest are Sagarmatha (Nepalese), Qomolongma (Chinese) and Mi-ti-Gu-ti-Cha-pu-Long-na (Tibetan).  After a total loss of 11 lives since the first reconnaissance in 1921, Everest was finally conquered at 11.30 A. M. on May 29, 1953.