Captain Matthew Webb (19/01/1848 – 24/07/1883)

Captain Matthew Webb was my great-great-grandfather - on my mothers side, I’ve never researched the family tree, although I have promised myself that I will do one day, I’m currently sourcing memorabilia and ephemera for Captain Matthew Webb - if you have anything, please contact me.

Captain Matthew Webb was born in Shropshire, one of 12 children to Matthew Webb (1813-1876), and Sarah Webb (1822-1877). At 12 years old he enlisted to a life at sea working for the Cunard cruise line, and serving onboard the Conway training ship.

Later whilst serving as second mate onboard the cruise ship ‘Russia’ he attempted to rescue a man overboard my diving into the Atlantic ocean – his rescue failed and the man was never found, but Webb was rewarded with 100 pounds and the Stanhope Gold Medal, and his bravery was reflected in the British press.

In 1873 – Webb was serving as Captain of the steamship ‘Emerald’ and read an account of a failed attempt to swim the English Channel by JB Johnson. Inspired by this, he left his job and began training as a professional swimmer, first in London at Lambeth Baths and then in the Thames Estuary and English Channel.

On 12th August 1875 he made his first attempt at swimming the English Channel, but poor weather forced him to abandon.

On 24th August 1875 he made a second attempt, leaving from the Admiralty Pier in Dover, smeared in porpoise oil – he set off into the sea using a steady backstroke. Despite stings from jellyfish and strong winds and seas off the French coast, he finally waded from the sea at Cap Griz Nez after 21hours and 45minutes – the first man to swim the English Channel.

Press from Great Britain and the world feted him for this achievement, and Matthew Webb embarked on a career as a professional swimmer. There was memorabilia such as commemorative china and a book called ‘The Art of Swimming’. He took part in swimming matches and exhibitions and even spent 128 hours in a tank of water at Boston Horticultural Show.

In 1880 he married Madeline Kate Chaddock – and later had two children – Matthew and Helen.

In 1883 he attempted what was to be his last stunt – a dangerous (some considered suicidal) swim across the rapids below Niagara Falls. At 4.25pm he jumped into the river from a small boat below the falls, and began his swim – some 10 minutes later he had become caught in the current and was dragged under the surface in a whirlpool. His body was pulled 4 days later, downstream – and his body was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls.

In 1909 – his older brother Thomas unveiled a memorial in Dawley, Shropshire – its inscription : ‘Nothing great is easy’.

References:

A true Shropshire boy
Dover Pages
Wikipedia - Captain Matthew Webb

Sir John Betjeman - A shropshire lad

The gas was on in the Institute,
The flare was up in the gym,
A man was running a mineral line,
A lass was singing a hymn,
When Captain Webb the Dawley man,
Captain Webb from Dawley,
Came swimming along the old canal
That carried the bricks to Lawley,
Swimming along, swimming along,
Swimming along from Severn,
And paying a call at Dawley Bank
While swimming along to Heaven.

The sun shone low on the railway line
And over the bricks and stacks,
And in at the upstairs windows
Of the Dawley houses’ backs,
When we saw the ghost of Captain Webb,
Webb in a water sheeting,
Come dripping along in a bathing dress
To the Saturday evening meeting.
Dripping along, dripping along,
To the Congregational Hall;
Dripping and still he rose over the sill
And faded away in a wall.

There wasn’t a man in Oakengates
That hadn’t got hold of the tale,
And over the valley in Ironbridge,
And round by Coalbrookdale,
How Captain Webb the Dawley man,
Captain Webb from Dawley,
Rose rigid and dead from the old canal
That carried the bricks to Lawley,
Rigid and dead, rigid and dead,
To the Saturday congregation,
And paying a call at Dawley Bank
On his way to his destination.

A Shropshire Lad Composed by
The Late Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman.