1. Captain Matthew Webb was an English seaman, swimmer and stuntman who became the first person to swim the English Channel without the use of artificial aids.
74 Facts About Matthew Webb
1. 2.
In 1875, on his second attempt, Matthew Webb gained fame by successfully swimming the English Channel from Dover, England, to Cap Gris-Nez, France.
3.
Matthew Webb competed in several races, and performed stunts in England and America, including completing a 40-mile swim from Gravesend to Woolwich along the Thames in 1877, swimming 74 miles over six days to win a long-distance swimming race in 1879, and floating for 128.5 hours at the Boston Horticultural Hall in 1882.
4.
Matthew 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.
5.
Matthew Webb was born on 19 January 1848 in Dawley, Shropshire.
6.
Matthew Webb was one of 13 children of the surgeon Dr Matthew Webb.
7.
In 1849, when Matthew Webb was 14 months old, his family moved to Madeley, and then in 1856 to Coalbrookdale, where they lived near the River Severn.
8.
In 1860, at twelve years old, Matthew Webb began training for the Merchant Navy aboard the HMS Conway training ship.
9.
Matthew Webb impressed his peers by swimming for extended periods.
10.
In 1862, Matthew Webb began a three-year apprenticeship on eastern cargo ships operated by the Rathbone Brothers of Liverpool.
11.
In Hong Kong, Matthew Webb fought off a mugging attempt until a policeman caused the assailants to flee.
12.
Matthew Webb gained a reputation for fearlessness and was admired by his comrades.
13.
Matthew Webb worked on ships to Japan, Brazil and Egypt.
14.
Matthew Webb was confident in his physical abilities, especially in swimming.
15.
Matthew Webb dived down repeatedly for hours, cutting the rope until the propeller was freed.
16.
From 1865 to 1875, Matthew Webb worked on seven ships, the last being the Emerald, where he served as captain for six months.
17.
In mid-1872, Webb read an account of the failed attempt by J B Johnson to swim the English Channel, and became inspired to try.
18.
In 1874 Matthew Webb sought financial backers for his Channel attempt and other long swims.
19.
Matthew Webb approached Robert Watson, owner of the Swimming, Rowing and Athletic Record and Swimming Notes and Record, for support.
20.
Watson and Beckwith arranged a secret trial of Matthew Webb, watching him swim breaststroke down the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Regent's Canal Dock.
21.
In June 1875 Matthew Webb left his job as captain of the Emerald to focus on swimming.
22.
Matthew Webb's next swim was a 20-mile journey from Dover to Ramsgate.
23.
Matthew Webb hired a local boatman and invited a reporter from the Dover Chronicle.
24.
Matthew Webb alternated between breaststroke and sidestroke, finishing in eight hours and 40 minutes at Ramsgate Pier.
25.
Matthew Webb consulted locals about conditions in the Strait of Dover and chose to use Boyton's strategy.
26.
Matthew Webb planned to start on the east flood tide and catch the current as it turned west.
27.
Matthew Webb did not want a doctor, since he believed he knew his health best.
28.
Matthew Webb boarded the boat 15 minutes before the weather conditions would have prevented him doing so.
29.
Matthew Webb ate bacon and eggs with claret, then set off in the Ann from the Harbour to Admiralty Pier.
30.
At 12:56 pm, Matthew Webb dived from the pier in his red silk swimming costume.
31.
Matthew Webb set off into the ebb tide which carried him for the first three-quarters of a mile.
32.
Matthew Webb was backed by the Ann and two smaller rowing boats operated by Charles Baker, who joined Matthew Webb in the water for parts of the swim, and John Graham Chambers.
33.
Matthew Webb started swimming breaststroke at 25 strokes per minute but soon slowed to 20.
34.
Matthew Webb consumed cod liver oil, beef tea, brandy, coffee and ale, but did not stop long for each feed to preserve body heat.
35.
At 20:35, Matthew 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.
36.
Matthew Webb briefly went to the saloon but soon moved to the deck, where he was greeted by a cheering crowd.
37.
Matthew Webb soon grew tired of the crowd and tried to leave for his home in Wellington via train.
38.
When Matthew Webb visited the Baltic Exchange in London, workers stopped to cheer him.
39.
Matthew Webb received gifts, including gold cuff links and collar studs, a gold watch and a North London Swimming Club gold cross.
40.
Matthew Webb was pleased that Burgess had succeeded, as it demonstrated the crossing was possible and would silence those who doubted Webb's achievement.
41.
Matthew Webb began lecturing on his career and swimming-related topics, where he opposed the common Victorian practice of forcefully dunking children, suggesting instead they learn by experimenting for themselves in shallow water.
42.
Matthew Webb licensed his name for merchandise, including commemorative pottery and matches.
43.
Matthew Webb wrote a book titled The Art of Swimming, though this was mostly written by Payne.
44.
In Land and Water, Matthew Webb stated Cavill had only made it halfway, which angered him.
45.
Matthew Webb did not make much money, but lived a high-cost lifestyle and was generous.
46.
Matthew Webb completed the 40-mile swim which broke the record for the longest freshwater swim, and earned publicity from The Times.
47.
Matthew Webb was attracting less attention, so in 1880 he went to America.
48.
Matthew Webb found a new manager, Captain Henry Hartley, who arranged for The Manhattan Beach Company to wager $1,000 on a ten-mile swim from Sandy Hook to Manhattan Beach.
49.
Matthew Webb was required to enter Manhattan Beach Harbour between 17:00 and 18:00 to ensure the largest possible audience.
50.
Two white buoys were placed half a mile apart; Matthew Webb was tasked with swimming around them 20 times in regular trunks, while Boyton completed 25 laps in his suit.
51.
Matthew Webb suffered a cramp that ended his race, while Boyton paddled to the finish.
52.
The details of the race are unclear, but the referee refused to declare a winner and later accused Matthew Webb of cheating by swimming to shore and running across the beach.
53.
Matthew Webb denied the accusation, and it was revealed that the referee was Boyton's fiancee's father.
54.
Matthew Webb left the water after swimming 6 miles, and Hartley later said he had felt cramps coming on.
55.
Matthew Webb followed this with a 74-hour float at Scarborough Aquarium, which received little public attention.
56.
Matthew Webb vomited and was assisted by Baker and Watson in returning to normal body temperature.
57.
Matthew Webb returned to America in 1882, where he won a 5-mile race against railroad engineer George Wade at Brighton Beach, and another 5-mile race against 22 swimmers at Nantasket Beach.
58.
Matthew Webb floated for 128.5 hours in Boston Horticultural Hall, attracting more attention than his previous floating exhibits in England;, but his financial situation remained poor.
59.
Matthew Webb withdrew from the race after coughing up blood due to tuberculosis.
60.
Matthew Webb made one final public appearance to ceremonially start a race at Battersea Baths.
61.
In 1882, Matthew Webb announced his intent to swim through the Whirlpool Rapids below Niagara Falls.
62.
Matthew Webb rented a cottage and trained for a month at Nantasket Beach.
63.
Matthew Webb wrote a will leaving his property to his Madeleine.
64.
The Niagara Falls Gazette announced Matthew Webb would start his swim at 16:00 that day.
65.
The boat operator made a final attempt to dissuade him, but Matthew Webb only said "goodbye boy", before exiting the boat.
66.
Matthew Webb briefly resurfaced several times, but was sucked into the whirlpool and never seen alive again.
67.
The next day at noon, Kyle sent Madeleine a telegram with the news, and at 22:00 he stopped the search for Matthew Webb alive, offering a $100 reward for Matthew Webb's body.
68.
Rumours spread that Madeleine inherited a large sum, but Kyle told the public that Matthew Webb had left it to his children.
69.
Many of Matthew Webb's friends organised an ornamental swimming event at Lambeth Baths in his honour.
70.
The Land and Water criticized the risks Matthew Webb had taken later in life, and Bell's Life blamed the railway companies for his death.
71.
Matthew Webb's widow reburied Matthew Webb in Oakwood Cemetery with another funeral.
72.
Matthew Webb wanted to inspire more people to learn to swim, and The New York Times said he had had a positive impact by inspiring the country to swim.
73.
In 1965, Matthew Webb was added to the International Swimming Hall of Fame for being the first person to cross the English Channel.
74.
Matthew Webb's death inspired a poem by William McGonagall in 1883, and John Betjeman's poem "A Shropshire Lad".