Editing Matthew Webb

{{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]].

==Early life==
Webb was born on 19 January 1848 in [[Dawley]], [[Shropshire]]. He was one of 13 children of the surgeon Dr Matthew Webb.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=12}}{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}} In 1849, when Webb was 14 months old, his family moved to [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]], and then in 1856 to [[Coalbrookdale]], where they lived near the River Severn.<ref name="dawleyheritage">{{Cite web |last=Peel |first=Malcolm |title=Matthew Webb biography |url=http://www.dawleyheritage.co.uk/unpublished-articles/350/biography-of-capt-matthew-webb-by-m-peel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001093638/https://www.dawleyheritage.co.uk/unpublished-articles/350/biography-of-capt-matthew-webb-by-m-peel |archive-date=1 October 2024 |access-date=22 August 2018 |website=Dawley Heritage Group |language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=14-16}}

Webb's first memory involved the water.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=11}} After school he would go with friends to play in the Severn, so by the age of seven he could swim.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=19}} This was uncommon for the time, as swimming was not generally considered a pleasurable activity, but rather a medical treatment.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=21-22}} At eight, Webb and his older brother Thomas saved his younger brother Charles from drowning.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=28}} Webb enjoyed showing off in front of his friends and reading sea stories, with the book ''Old Jack'' by [[William Henry Giles Kingston|W. H. G. Kingston]] inspiring him to become a seaman.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=29-31}}{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}}

==Career as a seaman==
[[File:HMSConway1.jpg|thumb|HMS ''Conway'' training ship at [[Rock Ferry]]]]
In 1860, at twelve years old, Webb began training for the [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] aboard the [[HMS Conway (school ship)|HMS ''Conway'']] training ship.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=37}} Initially homesick and disliking the harsh conditions,{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=41}} Webb soon became popular on the ''Conway'' and earned the nickname "Chummy Webb".{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=46}} The routine was regulated, but allowed time for play, and students studied both traditional subjects and nautical skills.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=43-44}} Webb rescued a student who had fallen overboard.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}} He impressed his peers by swimming for extended periods.{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=36}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=47}}

=== Apprenticeship with the Rathbone Brothers ===
In 1862, Webb began a three-year apprenticeship on eastern cargo ships operated by the [[Rathbone Brothers]] of [[Liverpool]]. He trained to become a [[second mate]], earning £30 (about £{{Inflation|index=UK|value=30|start_year=1862|r=-2|fmt=c}} today) for his three years' work.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=47}} His first voyage was from Liverpool to [[Calcutta]]. The crew faced bad weather that terrified Webb.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=47-48}} Despite this, he excelled in the harsh conditions and was not prone to seasickness unlike the other new recruits. The ship then sailed to [[Hong Kong]], [[Singapore]], back to Calcutta and then back home. In Hong Kong, Webb fought off a mugging attempt until a policeman caused the assailants to flee.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=51-52}}

His next trip was to [[Aden]] and then [[Bombay]], where he spent three months and first swam in the sea. He swam between the boats in the harbour, dining at his destination and swimming back again. He enjoyed the extra buoyancy that the saltwater provided, and the roughness of the waves.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=52}} Webb gained a reputation for fearlessness and was admired by his comrades.{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=36}} After his third voyage, he passed his second mate qualification.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=52}}

===Work as a second mate and seaman===
Webb's contract expired in 1865, after which he became a second mate for Saunders & Co., another Liverpool-based shipping company. He worked on ships to Japan, Brazil and Egypt.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=52}}

Webb was confident in his physical abilities, especially in swimming. He would leap off the [[Yard (sailing)|yardarm]] into the sea, and earned an extra £1 per day for anchoring near a wreck, and then swimming back to shore—a job which the other sailors were too afraid to do.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=53}} In one incident, he competed with a [[Newfoundland dog]] to see who could swim the longest in the rough sea. After an hour, Webb was still swimming but the dog had to be rescued from the water.{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=36}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=58}} In the [[Suez Canal]], his ship's propeller became tangled with a rope. Webb dived down repeatedly for hours, cutting the rope until the propeller was freed. Saunders & Co. never acknowledged his efforts so he left for the United States.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=58-59}}[[File:Stanhope_Medal.png|thumb|upright|Stanhope Medal]]Disliking the US, Webb took a job as an ordinary seaman on the [[Cunard Line]] ship ''[[SS Waesland|Russia]]'' to return to the UK.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=59}} During the voyage, he attempted to rescue a man overboard by jumping into the cold mid-Atlantic Ocean while the ship was travelling at {{cvt|14.5|knots}}.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}} During the 37 minutes before he was rescued, Webb nearly drowned.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=61}}{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}} The man was never found, but the passengers of the ''Russia'' gave Webb a [[Prize money|purse]] of gold{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=62}} and upon returning home, he learned that his attempted rescue had won him the first [[Stanhope Medal]] and made him a hero in the British press.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}}

From 1865 to 1875, Webb worked on seven ships, the last being the ''Emerald'', where he served as [[captain]] for six months.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}}<ref name="dawleyheritage" />

==English Channel swimming record==
In mid-1872, Webb read an account of the failed attempt by [[J. B. Johnson (swimmer)|J. B. Johnson]] to swim the English Channel, and became inspired to try.<ref name=":0" />{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=54-56}}

===Channel training===
In 1874 Webb sought financial backers for his Channel attempt and other long swims. He approached [[Robert Watson (journalist)|Robert Watson]], owner of the ''[[Swimming, Rowing and Athletic Record]]'' and ''[[Swimming Notes and Record]]'', for support.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=172}} Though Watson doubted Webb would attempt the channel, he advised him to wait until next summer for better weather. Webb agreed and moved to Dover to practice. Locals there nicknamed him the "Red Indian" as he would often come back from long swims with a red face.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=66–67}} Before returning to Watson's office on [[Fleet Street]], he tested himself by swimming to the [[Varne Lightvessel]] and back again, a distance of {{cvt|13|miles}}.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=67-68}}

Watson was surprised by Webb's return and introduced him to [[Fred Beckwith]], a coach at [[Lambeth Baths]] in [[south London]].{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=172}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=68-69}} Watson and Beckwith arranged a secret trial of Webb, watching him swim [[breaststroke]] down the [[River Thames|Thames]] from [[Westminster Bridge]] to [[Regent's Canal Dock]]. After an hour and 20 minutes, they "grew tired of watching his slow, methodical but perfect breaststroke" and concluded his trial.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=173}} For the rest of the 1874 swimming season, Webb trained daily at Lambeth Baths.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=73–74}} He became close friends with Beckwith and Watson.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=99-100}}[[File:Captain_Paul_Boyton,_Swam_the_Straits_of_Gibraltar,_from_World's_Champions,_Second_Series_(N43)_for_Allen_&_Ginter_Cigarettes_MET_DP839332.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Paul Boyton in his survival suit, on the front of a cigarette packet]]
In June 1875 Webb left his job as captain of the ''Emerald'' to focus on swimming.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}}<ref name=":0" /> That same month, future American rival [[Paul Boyton]] paddled across the Channel in a [[survival suit]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Irving |first=Joseph |author-link=Joseph Irving |title=The Annals of Our Time from March 20, 1874, to the Occupation of Cyprus |publisher=Macmillan |year=1879 |location=London |page=24 |chapter=Captain Boyton |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e28BAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA24}}</ref>{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}} Although Boyton used a suit, the public viewed them as rivals, forcing Webb to match the standards of endurance that Boyton set.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=80–81}} Webb called Boyton "an obvious fraud".{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=86}}

On 3 July Beckwith organised a spectacle with Webb attempting a {{cvt|20|mile|adj=on}} swim from Blackwall to Gravesend along the River Thames, which he finished in 4 hours and 52 minutes.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=102}} Although Webb gained media attention for the feat,{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=102}} low public interest on the rainy day meant Beckwith lost money. As a result, Webb hired a new manager, [[Arthur Gay Payne|Arthur Payne]], sporting editor of ''[[Evening Standard|The Standard]].''{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=173}}

On 17 July Webb announced his attempt to swim the English Channel with a statement in ''Bell's Life'' and ''Land and Water'':{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|pp=104-105}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=103}}

{{Blockquote|text=I am authorised by Captain Webb to announce his full determination to attempt the feat of swimming across the Channel... Beyond a paltry bet of £20 to £1 he has nothing to gain by success. Surely, under the circumstances, there are some lovers of sport who would gladly, in sporting language, "put him on so much to nothing". Should he by chance succeed, which is extremely improbable, it would be cruel that one who would undoubtedly have performed the greatest athletic feat on record should be a loser by the event.|author=Arthur Payne}}

Webb's next swim was a 20-mile journey from Dover to [[Ramsgate]]. He hired a local boatman and invited a reporter from the ''[[Dover Chronicle]]''.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=104-105}} Despite heavy rain, he set off just before 10:00 with the tide in his favour. Webb alternated between breaststroke and [[sidestroke]],{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=105}} finishing in eight hours and 40 minutes at [[Ramsgate Pier]].{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=106}} The only newspaper to report was the ''Dover Chronicle''.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=106}}

After his long swims, Webb underwent a medical check in London, which was reported in the ''Land and Water''.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=106–108}} An employee there gave Webb a jar of [[porpoise]] oil for insulation, which he later used for his Channel swim.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=108-109}}

In August Webb moved from London to the [[Flying Horse Inn (Dover)|Flying Horse Inn]] in Dover to begin final preparations. He swam an hour daily, except every tenth day when he swam up to five hours.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=109}}

===Channel swim===
Webb consulted locals about conditions in the [[Strait of Dover]] and chose to use Boyton's strategy. He planned to start on the east [[flood tide]] and catch the current as it turned west.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=110}} For support, he chose the lugger boat ''Ann'', which was captained by George Toms.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=110-111}} Webb did not want a doctor, since he believed he knew his health best.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=111}}

====First attempt====
[[File:Map_showing_the_routes_of_Matthew_Webb's_two_channel_attempts.png|thumb|Map showing the routes of Webb's two channel attempts]]
Webb waited for moderately good weather and began his first attempt on 12 August.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=111–112}}<ref name="dawleyheritage" /> According to Dolphin from the ''[[Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News]]'', during the swim, he tried an early form of goggles without a seal, which he called "barnacles", but they did not work.{{Sfn|Dolphin|1875|p=13}} The weather worsened, and after seven hours he was over nine miles off course.<ref name=":0" />{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=174}}{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=37}} He boarded the boat 15 minutes before the weather conditions would have prevented him doing so. Despite his disappointment, he remained positive and was assured by Toms that with better weather, he likely would have succeeded.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=117}}

====Successful attempt====
Good weather arrived on 24 August with a good [[barometer]] reading, light wind and slightly overcast sky. The sea temperature was {{cvt|18|C}}.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=118}} Webb ate bacon and eggs with [[Bordeaux wine|claret]], then set off in the ''Ann'' from the [[Dover Harbour|Harbour]] to [[Admiralty Pier]].{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=119}} Toms predicted the swim would take around 14 hours, while Captain Pittock of the ''[[PS Castalia|Castalia—]]''who was an expert on the Channel waters—estimated it would take around 20.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=118}} At the time of his swim, Webb weighed {{cvt|204|lb}}, his chest size was {{cvt|40.5|inches}} and he was {{cvt|5|feet|8|inches}} tall.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}}
[[File:Admiralty_Pier_Dover_England.jpg|thumb|Admiralty Pier, Dover, pictured between 1890 and 1900<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic Framed Print, Admiralty Pier Dover England, 17-7/8" x 21-7/8" |url=https://snapshotsofthepast.com/admiralty-pier-dover-england-amz-sotp-phc-263000 |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=Snapshots Of The Past |language=en}}</ref>]]
At 12:56 pm, Webb dived from the pier in his red silk swimming costume.<ref name="dawleyheritage" /> He set off into the [[ebb tide]] which carried him for the first three-quarters of a mile.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}}<ref name=":0" />{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=174}} Webb was backed by the ''Ann'' and two smaller rowing boats operated by Charles Baker, who joined Webb in the water for parts of the swim, and [[John Graham Chambers]].{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=119}}<ref name=":02">{{cite ODNB|id=5075|title=Chambers, John Graham|first=M. A.|last=Bryant}}</ref> Aboard the ''Ann'' were: Toms and his crew, Webb's brother-in-law George Ward, Payne (acting as a referee and reporter for the ''Land and Water'' and ''The Standard'') and reporters from ''[[The Field (magazine)|The Field]]'', the ''Daily News'', the ''[[Dover Express]]'', ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', the ''Dover Chronicle'', ''[[The Times]]'', the ''Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News'' and ''[[The Illustrated London News]]''.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=119}}<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=174}}
[[File:Boat_crew_feeding_Matthew_Webb_hot_coffee_during_his_English_Channel_crossing.png|thumb|Boat crew feeding Webb hot coffee]]Webb started swimming breaststroke at 25 strokes per minute but soon slowed to 20. He consumed [[cod liver oil]], beef tea, [[brandy]], [[coffee]] and [[ale]], but did not stop long for each feed to preserve body heat.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=175}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=122-123}}

By 17:30, Dover could not be seen. At 20:35, Webb was stung painfully by a [[jellyfish]], but he continued after a shot of brandy, and by 23:00, Toms believed they were over halfway.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=175}}<ref name="mason">{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Paul |date=10 October 2013 |title=Heroes of swimming: Captain Matthew Webb |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-swimming-blog/2013/oct/10/swimming-captain-matthew-webb-swim-the-english-channel |work=The Guardian |department=The Swimming Blog}}</ref> A mail boat named ''The Maid of Kent'' passed Webb, with passengers cheering.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=127}}

For five hours, the currents off [[Cap Gris-Nez]] prevented him from reaching the shore,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=24 September 2014 |title=The daredevil channel swimmer |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/features/2003/12/captain_webb.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719105628/https://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/features/2003/12/captain_webb.shtml |archive-date=19 July 2024 |access-date=19 July 2024 |publisher=BBC Shropshire}}</ref> and he was visibly struggling.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=128}} By 21:30, Webb had slowed to twelve strokes per minute, and the crew grew anxious.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=|pp=131-132}} The ''Maid of Kent'' returned with a rowing boat containing eight people to shield Webb from the wind and rain,{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=32}} and the crew sang the tune "[[Rule, Britannia!]]".{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=38}}[[File:Gris_nez_pano_cotes.jpg|thumb|View from Cap Griz Nez, facing England]]After nearly 22 hours, at 10:41 am on 25 August, he landed near Calais.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}} His zig-zag course across the Channel covered about {{cvt|39|miles}}.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}}<ref>{{cite news |title=How The Channel First Was Swum. Captain Webb, Son of a Physician, Received Training as Sailor in China Trade. Killed in Niagara River. Tried to Cross Rapids in 1883 and Was Lost |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0DE1DD1339EF32A25750C2A96E9C946495D6CF&legacy=true |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=23 August 1925 }}</ref><ref name="dawleyheritage" /> After finishing, he fell into his friends' arms,{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=133}} and slept in the Hotel de Paris.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=176}}

===Reception===
After his swim, Webb had a temperature of {{cvt|38|C}} and two long swellings on his neck. He slept almost continuously for 24 hours.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=138-139}} After meeting the crowds at the hotel and touring a lace factory,{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=139}} Webb and George Ward boarded the flag-decorated ''Castalia'' for their return to England. Webb briefly went to the saloon but soon moved to the deck, where he was greeted by a cheering crowd.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=141}}[[File:Matthew Webb.jpg|thumb|upright|Caricature of Webb by [[Carlo Pellegrini (caricaturist)|Ape]], published in the London magazine ''[[Vanity Fair (British magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' in 1875]]At [[Dover Harbour]], a crowd eagerly awaited him. Webb, Toms and the crew boarded a carriage to the [[Flying Horse Inn (Dover)|Flying Horse Inn]].{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=141–142}} Webb soon grew tired of the crowd and tried to leave for his home in [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]] via train. The crowd accompanied him to the train station, while the song "[[See the Conquering Hero Comes]]" was played.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=145}}

In Wellington, a crowd brought his carriage to [[Ironbridge]], where the Mayor of Wenlock greeted him.<ref name="dawleyheritage" /> The journey was lit by candles, torches and lanterns held by the residents.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=146-147}} On Monday, he was met by a group from Dawley. They escorted him and his family down the High Street, where people welcomed him.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=149}} Flowers lined his route, and the day ended with a bonfire and fireworks.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=149-150}} When Webb visited the [[Baltic Exchange]] in London, workers stopped to cheer him.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=151}} He accepted invitations to visit the [[William Cotton (Lord Mayor)|Lord Mayor of London]], receive an ovation at the [[Royal Cambridge Music Hall]] and have his portrait drawn.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=152}}

Webb received gifts, including gold cuff links and collar studs, a gold watch and a [[North London Swimming Club]] gold cross.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=152-153}} The [[London Stock Exchange]] established him a [[testimonial fund]], which raised him £2,424 (£{{Inflation|index=UK|value=2424|start_year=1875|r=-4|fmt=c}} today).<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=176}}{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}} Webb gave £500 to his father and invested £1,782 before moving to [[Kensington]], London.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}} For the rest of 1875, Webb spoke at boys' schools, including the ''Conway'', where he was used as an example of [[British values|English virtues]].{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=156-157}}

Several newspapers reported on Webb.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=136-137}} ''The Standard'' published Payne's account of the crossing,{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|pp=174-176}} and ''The Daily Telegraph'' interviewed Webb.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=142-143}} Surgeon [[Sir William Fergusson, 1st Baronet|Sir William Fergusson]] called Webb's feat "almost unrivalled as an instance of human prowess and endurance", and noted his body's likely ability for [[vasoconstriction]] to prevent heat loss.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last= |first= |date=28 August 1875 |title=The Week |url=https://www.bmj.com/content/2/765/282 |journal=Br Med J |language=en |volume=2 |issue=765 |pages=282–283 |doi=10.1136/bmj.2.765.282 |issn=0007-1447|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It was suggested in parliament that Webb be knighted, with [[R. H. Horne|Richard Henry Horne]] being Webb's strongest advocate, but it never happened.{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|pp=38-39}}

It took 36 years for anyone else to swim the channel, accomplished by [[Bill Burgess|Thomas Burgess]] in 1911.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=240}} After Burgess completed the crossing, Webb's widow was interviewed. She was pleased that Burgess had succeeded, as it demonstrated the crossing was possible and would silence those who doubted Webb's achievement.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=11 October 1911 |title=The Channel Swim |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19111011.2.81 |access-date=14 September 2024 |work=[[Poverty Bay Herald]] |pages=8 |volume=XXXVIII |issue=12581}}</ref> Since then, the channel has been crossed by over 2500 swimmers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation - Solo Swims Statistics |url=https://cspf.co.uk/solo-swims-statistics |access-date=29 August 2024 |website=Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation}}</ref>

==Swimming career==
After his record swim, Webb received recognition internationally and pursued a career as a professional swimmer.<ref name="mason" />

He began lecturing on his career and swimming-related topics,{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=165-166}}{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=39}} where he opposed the common Victorian practice of forcefully dunking children, suggesting instead they learn by experimenting for themselves in shallow water.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=25}} He also licensed his name for merchandise, including commemorative pottery and matches.{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=39}}<ref name="mason" /> Webb also wrote a book titled ''The Art of Swimming'',<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=30 September 2019 |title=Captain Matthew Webb - Swim England Hall of Fame |url=https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/captain-matthew-webb/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |website=Swim England |language=en}}</ref> though this was mostly written by Payne.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=160-161}}

In August 1876, Webb accompanied [[Cavill family|Frederick Cavill]] on his first channel attempt, but it ended after Cavill drank a lot of whisky and was stung by jellyfish.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=167-168}} In ''Land and Water'', Webb stated Cavill had only made it halfway, which angered him.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=169-170}} After Cavill's second attempt, he claimed to have finished nearly ten hours faster than Webb. This claim was quickly discredited when one of the witnesses was found to be fictitious. Cavill continued to taunt Webb for years.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=170, 176}}

=== Early exhibition swims ===
Webb did not make much money, but lived a high-cost lifestyle and was generous.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=166}}{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=39}} In 1877, he bet £100 (about £{{Inflation|index=UK|value=100|start_year=1877|r=-3|fmt=c}} today) at 20-to-1 odds that he could swim from [[Gravesend]] to [[Woolwich]] along the Thames. He completed the 40-mile swim which broke the record for the longest freshwater swim, and earned publicity from ''The Times''.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=171}} The record stood until 1899 when it was beaten by [[Montague Holbein]].{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=104}}

By 1879, Webb was in financial trouble.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|pp=176–178}} To raise funds, he entered a long-distance swimming race organised by Beckwith. The swimmers were tasked with swimming as far as possible over six days. The race was a moderate success for Beckwith, and Webb won the £70 prize.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=172-175}} He swam {{cvt|74|miles}}, averaging 14 hours per day.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />

=== Travel to America ===
Webb was attracting less attention, so in 1880 he went to America.{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=175}} He found a new manager, Captain Henry Hartley, who arranged for The Manhattan Beach Company to wager $1,000 (about ${{Inflation|index=US|value=1000|start_year=1880|r=-4|fmt=c}} today) on a ten-mile swim from [[Sandy Hook]] to [[Manhattan Beach, New York|Manhattan Beach]]. Webb was required to enter Manhattan Beach Harbour between 17:00 and 18:00 to ensure the largest possible audience.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=177-178}} Despite his crew's inexperience and Webb arriving three hours early, he finished the swim and fulfilled his contract.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=179–182}} ''The New York Times'' called the feat impressive but useless.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=178}}

On 22 August, Paul Boyton and Webb raced at [[Newport, New York|Newport]] beach, each wagering $1,000, and James Bennett (Newport casino owner) added another $1,000 to the prize pool. Two white buoys were placed half a mile apart; Webb was tasked with swimming around them 20 times in regular trunks, while Boyton completed 25 laps in his suit. A large crowd gathered on the beach, and Boyton took an early lead. Webb suffered a cramp that ended his race, while Boyton paddled to the finish.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=182-186}}

Webb challenged Boyton to a rematch, which he accepted. The race took place at [[Nantasket Beach]], and was promoted as the "Championship of the World".{{Sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=105}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=188-189}} Public interest was higher, with a prize pool of $4,000 (about ${{Inflation|index=US|value=4000|start_year=1880|r=-4|fmt=c}} today). Boyton had to paddle between three buoys, and Webb between two. After several postponements, the race was held on 6 September. The details of the race are unclear, but the referee refused to declare a winner and later accused Webb of cheating by swimming to shore and running across the beach.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=189-191}} Webb denied the accusation, and it was revealed that the referee was Boyton's fiancée's father.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=189-191}} Boyton challenged Webb again in a letter to the ''[[New York Herald]]'', offering greater odds, but Webb did not respond.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=192-193}}

Webb's next race was against Ernest Von Schoening, who defeated him in the "Endurance Championship of the World" on 14 September. Webb left the water after swimming {{cvt|6|miles}}, and Hartley later said he had felt cramps coming on.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=191}}

Overall, Webb was unsuccessful in America and lost money on the trip.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=178}} On 27 April 1880, Webb and Madeleine Kate Chaddock married at [[St Andrew's Church, Fulham|St Andrew's Church]], [[West Kensington]], and they later had two children, Matthew and Helen.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />

===Deteriorating health===
Webb's next endeavour was floating for 60 hours in the [[Royal Aquarium]] in [[Westminster]].{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|pp=39-40}} Members of the public were distracted by other attractions, and few paid attention to him.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=194-198}} He followed this with a 74-hour float at Scarborough Aquarium,{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=178}} which also received little public attention. In 1881, Webb's friend Frank Buckland from the ''Land and Water'' died, and Webb fell ill. Nevertheless, he continued swimming, participating in another six-day race at Lambeth Baths and a {{cvt|16|mile|adj=on}} race against Willie Beckwith.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=200}} 
[[File:Hollingworth_lake.jpg|thumb|Hollingworth Lake]]Webb's health worsened when he raced Dr. G. A. Jennings at [[Hollingworth Lake]]. Although Webb had trained in the cold water, and was nearly twice as fast as Jennings, the {{cvt|12|C}} water caused him to hallucinate and become disorientated. With twelve minutes remaining, Webb lost his direction and with 30 seconds left, he climbed out of the water. He vomited and was assisted by Baker and Watson in returning to normal body temperature.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=201-204}}

He returned to America in 1882, where he won a {{cvt|5|mile|adj=on}} race against railroad engineer George Wade at [[Brighton Beach]], and another 5-mile race against 22 swimmers at Nantasket Beach. Both events were poorly organised and recognised as sporting events.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=205}} He floated for 128.5 hours (minus a 94-minute break) in [[Horticultural Hall (Boston, 1865)|Boston Horticultural Hall]], attracting more attention than his previous floating exhibits in England;,<ref name="mason" />{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=178}} but his financial situation remained poor.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=178}}

Webb's last competitive swim was in March 1883, when he raced {{cvt|20|miles}} at Lambeth Baths against Willie Beckwith.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=208}} He withdrew from the race after coughing up blood due to [[tuberculosis]].{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=178}}{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=40}} By this time, Webb had lost {{cvt|42|lb}} since swimming the Channel.{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=178}}

For the next two months, Webb was bedridden. His brother, now Dr Thomas Webb, urged him to give up long-distance swimming for his health. Webb made one final public appearance to ceremonially start a race at [[Battersea Baths]].{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=208-209}}

==Death==
[[File:Whirlpool_rapids_panorama_from_the_Gorge_Railroad.webm|thumb|Panorama of the Whirlpool rapids from the Gorge Railroad in 1900]]

In 1882, Webb announced his intent to swim through the [[Niagara Whirlpool|Whirlpool Rapids]] below [[Niagara Falls]].<ref name="dawleyheritage" /> In June 1883, he and his family returned to America.{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=41}} Fred Beckwith and Watson tried to dissuade him, with Watson later saying:{{Sfn|Lambie|2010|p=178}}{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|pp=40-41}}
{{Blockquote|text=As we stood face to face I compared the fine, handsome sailor, who first spoke to me about swimming at Falcon Court, with the broken-spirited and terribly altered appearance of the man who courted death in the whirlpool rapids of Niagara... let it be taken for granted that his object was not suicide, but money and imperishable fame.|author=Robert Watson}}

Webb rented a cottage and trained for a month at Nantasket Beach. He wrote a will leaving his property to his Madeleine.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=221, 217}} He hired a new manager, Frederick Kyle, and travelled with him to Niagara on 23 July. The ''[[Niagara Falls Gazette]]'' announced Webb would start his swim at 16:00 that day.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=218}} Railway companies, charging visitors to watch, promised him earnings, which he estimated at $10,000.{{Sfn|Sprawson|1993|p=43}} The boat operator made a final attempt to dissuade him, but Webb only said "goodbye boy", before exiting the boat.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />
[[File:Rail_Road_Suspension_Bridge_Near_Niagara_Falls_v2.jpg|thumb|Spectators watched from the [[Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge]].]]
The first part went smoothly, but upon being lifted by a large wave, Webb shouted and raised his arm, before being pulled underwater for about {{cvt|130|feet}}. He briefly resurfaced several times, but was sucked into the whirlpool and never seen alive again.<ref name="dawleyheritage" /><ref name=":3">{{cite news |date=29 July 1883 |title=Captain Webb's Manager |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1883/07/29/102951546.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626210456/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1883/07/29/102951546.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 |archive-date=26 June 2024 |access-date=26 June 2024 |work=[[Boston Evening Traveller]] |page=10}}</ref>{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=223}}

After Webb went missing, Kyle speculated he had likely ended up downstream, while others suggested suicide.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=224-227}} The next day at noon, Kyle sent Madeleine a telegram with the news, and at 22:00 he stopped the search for Webb alive, offering a $100 reward for Webb's body.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=226}}{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=228}} Rumours spread that Madeleine inherited a large sum, but Kyle told the public that Webb had left it to his children.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=226}}

Four days later, Webb's body was found. The autopsy revealed that he died from paralysis caused by water pressure, leading to respiratory failure.<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=231-232}}

[[File:Grave of Matthew Webb (1848–1883) at Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, New York.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Webb's grave at Oakwood Cemetery]]Webb was buried in [[Oakwood Cemetery (Niagara Falls, NY)|Oakwood Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Captain Webb | work =[[The Globe and Mail]] | date = 1 August 1883}}</ref>{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=233–234}} Many of Webb's friends organised an [[Artistic swimming|ornamental swimming]] event at Lambeth Baths in his honour. The ''Land and Water'' criticized the risks Webb had taken later in life, and ''Bell's Life'' blamed the railway companies for his death.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|pp=236-237}}

Webb's widow reburied Webb in Oakwood Cemetery with another funeral. A dark granite Gothic monument was placed above the grave, inscribed "Captain Matthew Webb. Born Jan. 19, 1848. Died July 24, 1883".<ref name="dawleyheritage" />{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=238}}

==Legacy==
Webb wanted to inspire more people to learn to swim,{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=157}} and ''The New York Times'' said he had had a positive impact by inspiring the country to swim.{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=137}} In 1909, Webb's elder brother Thomas unveiled a memorial, funded by public donations, at the east end of Dawley High Street.<ref name="dawleyheritage" /> It bears the inscription: "Nothing great is easy."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/5609/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823042024/https://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/5609/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 August 2018 |title=Monument to Captain Matthew Webb (1848–1883) |website=National Recording Project |publisher=[[Public Monuments and Sculpture Association]] |language=en |access-date=22 August 2018 }}</ref><ref name="mason" /> Webb has another memorial in Dover and one at Coalbrookdale.<ref name="dawleyheritage" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sencicle |first=Lorraine |date=3 January 2015 |title=Captain Matthew Webb – the first Person to swim the Channel |url=https://doverhistorian.com/2015/01/03/captain-matthew-webb-the-first-person-to-swim-the-channel/ |access-date=22 August 2018 |website=The Dover Historian |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2009 |title=Shropshire's Captain Matthew Webb Named As Unsung Hero |url=http://www.stmem.com/news/newarticle.php?id=940 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823105624/http://www.stmem.com/news/newarticle.php?id=940 |archive-date=23 August 2018 |access-date=22 August 2018 |website=Shropshire Tourism}}</ref> Webb Crescent and Captain Webb Primary School in Dawley are named after him,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tes.com/news/names-live |title=Names to live up to |last=Haigh |first=Gerald |date=3 September 1999 |website=Tes |language=en |access-date=22 August 2018 }}</ref>{{Sfn|Watson|2001|p=240}} as is Webb House of the [[Haberdashers' Adams|Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School]] in [[Newport, Shropshire]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2013/12/landmarks-and-memorials-of-open-water.html |date=25 December 2013 |title=Landmarks, Monuments, Memorials of Open Water Swimmers |author=Daily News of Open Water Swimming}}</ref> In 1965, Webb was added to the [[International Swimming Hall of Fame]]<ref name=":2" /> for being the first person to cross the English Channel.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Captain Matthew Webb |url=https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-captain-matthew-webb/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |website=ISHOF |language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:Captain_Mathew_Webb_memorial,_Dover,_Kent.jpg|thumb|Captain Matthew Webb memorial, Dover, Kent]]His death inspired a poem by [[William McGonagall]] in 1883,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Watson |first1=Norman |title=Poet McGonagall: The Biography of William McGonagall |date=2010 |publisher=Birlinn |isbn=978-1841588841 |location=Edinburgh |pages=289–299 |chapter=Chronology of William McGonagall's Poems and Songs}}</ref> and [[John Betjeman]]'s poem "A Shropshire Lad".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Jon |date=15 February 2013 |title=Hidden treasures: Sir John Betjeman's Banana Blush |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/feb/15/sir-john-betjeman-banana-blush |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2006 |title=Why we love John Betjeman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/aug/25/popandrock.poetry |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>  A film adaptation of Webb's Channel attempt, directed by [[Justin Hardy (director)|Justin Hardy]], written by [[Jemma Kennedy]], and starring [[Warren Brown (actor)|Warren Brown]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 December 2013 |title=Brown: Portraying Webb an honour |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/brown-portraying-webb-an-honour/29832425.html |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> was released in 2015 under the title ''Captain Webb''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 August 2015 |title=Warren Brown takes on his toughest ever job |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a663456/warren-brown-i-played-historys-greatest-swimmer-but-im-scared-of-the-sea/ |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame]]
* [[List of successful English Channel swimmers]]
* [[Gertrude Ederle]] – First woman to swim the English Channel
* [[Mercedes Gleitze]] – First British woman to swim the English Channel

==References==
{{Clear}}
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin|indent=yes}}

* {{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/crossing00kath |title=The crossing: the glorious tragedy of the first man to swim the English channel |last=Watson |first=Kathy |publisher=[[G. P. Putnam's Sons]] |year=2001 |isbn=1-58542-109-X |location=New York |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sprawson |first=Charles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mnzxt6FUcq4C |title=Haunts of the Black Masseur: The Swimmer as Hero |publisher=[[Random House]] |year=1993 |isbn=978-0099223313 |location=London |publication-date=17 June 1993 |pages=36–44}}
*{{Cite book |last=Lambie |first=James |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofyourlifeh0000lamb |title=The Story of Your Life: A History of the Sporting Life Newspaper (1859–1998) |publisher=Matador |year=2010 |isbn=9781848762916 |location=Leicester |pages=172–178 |language=en}}
*{{cite DNB |wstitle=Webb, Matthew |last=Seccombe |first=Thomas |authorlink=Thomas Seccombe |volume=60 |pages=104-105 |year=1899}}
*{{Cite book |last=Dolphin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zEQ4Yb_O4MYC |title=The Channel Feats of Captain Webb and Captain Boyton |publisher=[[Dean & Son]] |year=1875 |location=London |language=en}}

{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |first=David |last=Elderwick |title=Captain Webb – Channel Swimmer |year=1987 |publisher=Brewin |isbn=0-947731-23-7 |location=Redditch}}
* {{cite book |first=Matthew |last=Webb |title=The Art of Swimming |year=1875 |publisher=[[Ward, Lock & Co.]] |location=London |language=en}}
{{commons category}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Webb, Matthew}}
[[Category:1848 births]]
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[[Category:Accidental deaths in Ontario]]
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[[Category:Male long-distance swimmers]]
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