Marking 150 years since first English Channel swim

Captain Matthew Webb, born in 1848 in Dawley, was the first person to have swum across the English Channel

Kent residents are commemorating the 150th anniversary since Captain Matthew Webb became the first person to swim the English Channel.

Webb was born in the mining Shropshire town Dawley on 19th January 1848 and like many people during the Victorian era, he had an unquenchable thirst for adventure.

He was known for his swimming prowess and after learning about a failed attempt by racing swimmer J.B. Johnson to swim the channel in 1873, he decided to take on that Herculean challenge.

"What was deemed impossible at the time went on to inspire so many people across the globe to follow his footsteps," said Kevin Murphy, secretary of the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation.

Mr Murphy, who lives in Dover, first swum across the channel when he was 19 in a relay involving six people.

After that, he said he followed the immortal words of Webb: "Nothing great is easy".

"I have successfully swum the English Channel 34 times myself," he said. "I also named my son Matthew after Captain Webb."

In 1970, Mr Murphy became the first Briton to complete a two-way crossing of the English Channel.

He described Webb as an "adventurer" who lived his life on the edge, taking on dangerous feats which fascinated audiences.

Webb, who was also a stuntman, etched his name in history when he became the first person to successfully swim in the English Channel on 25 August 1875.

Captain Matthew Webb was the first man to swim the English Channel, arriving at Calais. Original Publication: Illustrated London News

To prepare himself, he increased his stamina at Lambeth Baths, and trained at the Thames and the English Channel.

He swam from Dover to Calais in less than 21 hours 45 minutes and his journey was closely documented by the Illustrated London News.

His life took a dramatic turn after that fateful day; Webb became an exhibition swimmer around the world and had even written a book called The Art of Swimming.

However, his intrepid life came to an end in 1883 when he attempted to swim the Whirlpool Rapids below the Niagara Falls and drowned.

Since 1875, 3,118 swimmers completed solo swimming across the channel, according to the Channel Swimming Association

Catherine Holt, collections manager at Dover Museum, said Webb's remarkable achievement "helped put Dover on the map".

"Captain Webb promoted long distance swimming at a time when outdoor swimming wasn't popular," Ms Holt said.

"Because of what he did, swimming the English Channel has become a highly regarded accolade in the UK and across the world."

Webb's first attempt to swim the channel was on 12 August 1875, and Ms Holt said it was believed he failed due to bad weather.

"He was clearly a resilient man because he wasn't deterred by it."

A matchbox featuring Captain Matthew Webb which is on display at Dover Museum

Ms Holt believed that Webb, who grew up with lots of siblings, wanted to become independent early to find his place in the world.

Webb left home when he was 12 to become a merchant seaman. He served as Captain of the Emerald steamship.

She said his strong personality was proven when he once attempted to rescue a crewmate who fell overboard in the Atlantic during stormy conditions.

Although the crewmate died, his valour was recognised as he became the first recipient of the Stanhope Gold Medal awarded by the Royal Humane Society.

Ms Holt said Dover Museum has set up a temporarily exhibition dedicated to Webb, which closes in early November.