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ENGEnglandSport:SwimmingCaptain Matthew Webb was born at Dawley Green, Shropshire, on 19 January 1848. He learned to swim in the River Severn as a child and entered maritime training at twelve. His early life at sea helped develop the endurance that would make him a central figure in the history of marathon swimming.
After an unsuccessful attempt earlier that August, Webb left Dover on Tuesday 24 August 1875. Swimming principally breaststroke, he continued through strong tides and a jellyfish sting, reaching the Calais sands the following morning. The crossing took 21 hours and 45 minutes.
His achievement made him the first person to swim the English Channel and demonstrated that the crossing was possible. It preceded the specialist piloting knowledge and formal ratifying organisations that later developed around the sport.
The recorded nationality is England.
First successful Channel swim · 21 hours 45 minutes
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo swim
Tuesday, 24 August 1875 – Wednesday, 25 August 1875
England → France
Elapsed time · 21h 45m
Start clock · 12:56 · Time zone not specified
Finish clock · 10:41 · Time zone not specified
Historical account checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Open-water swimming · Solo swim
1875 · exact day not confirmed
River Thames, England
Completed the Thames swim during preparations for his Channel crossing.
Published distance · 20 miles reported by Dawley Heritage
Sources disagree · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
1848
Born at Dawley Green on 19 January.
12 August 1875
An unsuccessful attempt preceded the historic crossing.
24–25 August 1875
Dover to Calais in 21 hours 45 minutes.
1883
Died during an attempted swim of the Niagara rapids.
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First recorded finish
1 more finish needed
0 of 1 recorded
Selected swimming performances appear in the English Channel record above.
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