On 24 and 25 August 1875, Captain Matthew Webb, a master mariner from Dawley in Shropshire, became the first person to swim the English Channel. He swam from Dover to Calais, and completed the swim in 21 hours and 45 minutes. Included below are two newspaper stories (published the day after his epic swim) that report on this historic feat. Dundee Courier – Thursday 26 August 1875 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000162/18750826/020/0003 Staffordshire Sentinel – …