Howard Carter
The stubborn archaeologist who, after years of searching, peered into a forgotten tomb and unveiled the dazzling world of a boy-king.
1874–1939 (age 65)·British archaeologist and Egyptologist·Birthday: May 9·The Gilded Age
Biography
Howard Carter’s story is one of dogged persistence meeting spectacular luck. As a young artist sent to Egypt, he learned archaeology through meticulous fieldwork, eventually becoming the Inspector of Monuments for Upper Egypt. His career hit a low point after a dispute with officials, but his fortunes changed when he convinced the wealthy Lord Carnarvon to fund a final, long-shot search in the Valley of the Kings for the tomb of the obscure pharaoh Tutankhamun. After five fruitless seasons, with Carnarvon ready to quit, Carter’s team uncovered a hidden step in 1922. When he made a small hole in the sealed doorway and was asked if he could see anything, his famous reply was, 'Yes, wonderful things.' The subsequent excavation of the intact, treasure-filled tomb was a global sensation, capturing the world's imagination and forever changing public perception of ancient Egypt. Carter spent the next decade painstakingly cataloging its thousands of objects, securing his place in history.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Howard was born in 1874, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Howard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1874
Howard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1874Born
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1879Started school
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1887Became a teenager
President: Grover Cleveland
1890Could drive
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1892Could vote
President: Benjamin Harrison
1895Turned 21
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1904Turned 30
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Turned 40
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Turned 50
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1934Turned 60
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Died at 65
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
Key Achievements
- Discovered the nearly intact tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (KV62) in the Valley of the Kings on November 4, 1922.
- Meticulously excavated and cataloged over 5,000 artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb over a ten-year period.
- His discovery sparked a worldwide 'Egyptomania' and revolutionized Egyptology by providing an untouched snapshot of royal burial practices.
- Began his career as a tracer and draftsman, contributing detailed artwork to major excavations at sites like Beni Hasan and Deir el-Bersha.
Did You Know?
He received no formal university education in archaeology or Egyptology, training entirely on-site in Egypt.
Carter kept a pet canary, which his workers called 'the bird of gold that will lead us to the tomb.' A cobra ate it shortly before the discovery, which they saw as an omen.
He was reportedly the first person to enter the tomb's burial chamber in over 3,000 years.
Carter never married, dedicating his life entirely to his work in Egypt.
“Yes, wonderful things.”
