Editing Matthew Webb (section)

{{Short description|British swimmer (1848–1883)}}
{{about|the Channel-swimmer|the footballer|Matthew Webb (footballer)}}
{{good article}}
{{use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = Captain
| image              = Captain Matthew Webb.jpg
| alt                = Portrait of Matthew Webb
| caption            = Webb in ''[[The Illustrated London News]]'', 1883
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1848|1|19|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Dawley]], Shropshire, England
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1883|7|24|1848|1|19|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Niagara River]], Niagara Falls
| death_cause        = Paralysis from water pressure leading to respiratory failure
| other_names        = 
| known_for          = [[Swimming the English Channel]]
| monuments          = [[#Memorials and places|Monuments and places]]
| occupation         = Seaman, swimmer, stuntsman
| years_active       = 1875–1883
| resting_place      = [[Oakwood Cemetery (Niagara Falls, New York)|Oakwood Cemetery]], Niagara&nbsp;Falls, New York
| spouse             = Madeleine Kate Chaddock (married 1880–1883)
| partner            = 
| children           = 2
| relatives          = 
| awards             = [[Stanhope Medal]]
}}

Captain '''Matthew Webb''' (19 January 1848 – 24 July 1883) was an English seaman, swimmer and stuntman who became the first person to [[List of successful English Channel swimmers|swim the English Channel]] without the use of artificial aids. Webb increased the popularity of swimming in England.

Born in [[Dawley|Dawley, Shropshire]], Webb developed his swimming skills as a child while playing in the [[River Severn]]. At twelve, he began his career in the [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] after training at [[HMS Conway|HMS ''Conway'']]. After graduating, he began a three-year apprenticeship with the [[Rathbones|Rathbone Brothers]] of [[Liverpool]], during which he sailed internationally across various trade routes to countries including China, India, [[Hong Kong]], [[Singapore]] and [[Yemen]].

After completing his [[second mate]] training in 1865, Webb worked for ten years aboard different ships and for multiple companies. He was recognised for two acts of bravery: in the [[Suez Canal]], he freed the ship's propeller from an entangling rope by diving underwater and cutting it, and in the [[Atlantic Ocean]], he jumped in to attempt to save a man who had fallen overboard while the ship was travelling at {{cvt|14.5|knots}}. This latter act earned him the first [[Stanhope Medal|Stanhope medal]].

In 1875, on his second attempt, Webb gained fame by successfully swimming the [[English Channel]] from [[Dover]], England, to [[Cap Gris-Nez]], France. Public donations raised him £2,424 (about £{{Inflation|index=UK|value=2424|start_year=1875|r=-4|fmt=c}} today), and he started a career as a professional swimmer. Webb competed in several races, and performed stunts in England and America, including completing a {{cvt|40|mile|adj=on}} swim from [[Gravesend]] to [[Woolwich]] along the [[River Thames|Thames]] in 1877, swimming {{cvt|74|miles}} over six days to win a long-distance swimming race in 1879, and floating for 128.5 hours at the [[Horticultural Hall (Boston, 1865)|Boston Horticultural Hall]] in 1882. Webb's financial situation worsened, and in 1883 he was diagnosed with [[tuberculosis]], leaving him bedridden for two months. Webb died later that year after being paralysed by the water pressure while attempting to swim down the rapids at [[Niagara Gorge]], below [[Niagara Falls]].