WEBB, MATTHEW (1848-1883), English swimmer, gen erally known as "Captain Webb," was born at Dawley, Shrop shire on June 18, 1848, the son of a doctor. While still a boy he saved one of his brothers from drowning in the Severn, and, while serving on board the training ship in the Mersey, he again dis tinguished himself by saving a drowning comrade. He served his apprenticeship in the East India and China trade, shipped as second mate for several owners, and in 1874 was awarded the first Stanhope gold medal by the Royal Humane Society for an attempt to save a seaman who had fallen overboard from the Cunard steamship "Russia." In 1875 Captain Webb became a
professional swimmer. On July 3 he swam from Blackwall Pier to Gravesend, a distance of 20 m. in 44 hours, a record which re mained unbeaten until 1899. In the same year, after one unsuc cessful attempt, he swam the English Channel, on Aug. 24, from Dover to Calais in 214 hours. He lost his life on July 24, 1883, in an attempt to swim the rapids and whirlpool at Niagara.