Dates

• Existence: 19 January 1848 - 24 July 1883

Biography

Captain Matthew Webb was born in 1848 in Shropshire, England. Matthew Webb became an international celebrity after swimming the English Channel without the use of artificial aids in 1875.

Matthew learnt to swim in the River Severn when he was a child. At twelve years old, he joined the HMS Conway, where he spent two years training and then joined the Rathbone Brothers of Liverpool where he served a three year apprenticeship with the merchant navy.

Whilst serving on the Cunard Line ship Russia travelling from New York to Liverpool, Matthew attempted to rescue a man overboard in the mid-Atlantic. Although his efforts failed, he was hailed a hero and awarded £100 and the first Stanhope Medal for his courage.

In 1873 the news of the failed attempt of J.B. Johnson to swim the English Channel reached Matthew and inspired him attempt this record. Matthew, who by then was the Captain of the steamship Emerald, left his job to focus on his training. He made two attempts to swim across the channel, first on 12 August 1875, which he failed and second one on 24 August 1875, which he achieved. His success gained him celebrity and was followed by a professional career as a swimmer and stunt performer, which will last until 24 July 1883 when he died attempting to swim the Whirlpool Rapids on the Niagara River below Niagara Falls.

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