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Before the age of eight, Matthew Webb, (born 19 January 1848 at Dawley, Shropshire), had learned to swim in the River Severn at Ironbridge, and once saved the life of a younger brother who was trying to swim across the river for the first time. In 1873, Webb jumped overboard from the steamship Russia, to save a seaman in the water, and in 1874 was awarded the first Stanhope gold medal by the Royal Humane Society. Webb left his sea-faring profession in 1875 and in July completed a record swim of 20 miles from Blackwall Pier to Gravesend, in 4 hours 45 minutes. In August, following the success of American life-saving expert Captain Boyton, who had paddled across the Straits in his patent Life Saving Suit, Webb announced he would swim the English Channel without artificial aid. Webb's first attempt failed, but on 24 August he dived from Admiralty Pier, Dover, and swam through the night, reaching Calais at 10.40 a.m. the next morning, having been in the water for nearly 22 hours, swimming approximately 40 miles breast stroke, without touching a boat or artificial support of any kind. In 1883, due to financial difficulties, Webb decided to swim through the Niagara Falls rapids and whirlpool. On 24 July 1883, Webb dived from a boat and entered the rapids where the swift current quickly carried him downstream. Constant pounding forced air from his lungs and he struggled for breath, unable to swim as he was forced along towards the rock cliffs, before disappearing from view for the last time. Category: People Institute: Ironbridge Gorge Museum
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