Edwin Bibby (15 November 1848 – 5 May 1905) was an English

wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...

champion during the 1870s and 1880s. He was a popular

catch-as-catch-can Catch wrestling (also known as catch-as-catch-can) is an English wrestling style where wrestlers aim to win by pinning or submitting their opponent using any legal holds or techniques. It emphasizes adaptability and seizing opportunities dur ...

style wrestler in his generation. He became the first American Heavyweight Champion in 1881 with a victory over Duncan C. Ross. During his career he was also known as Ned and Eddie.

Early life in England

Bibby was born in

Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. The population was 48,604 at the 2021 census. Historically in Lancashire, it is on the north bank of the River Tame, in the foothills of the Pennines, east of Manche ...

, United Kingdom on 15 November 1848. He married Mary Ann Connelly (age 16) in 1867. They had 13 children, only three of whom survived. He began working as a coal miner in 1871. Bibby began his wrestling career in 1872 and quickly became a top wrestler. He performed for

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

in Prince Albert's Court in London.

Life in America

In 1879 he immigrated to America and later sent for his family. He lived in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

and later

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

and became a naturalized citizen in 1900. On 19 January 1881, Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion with his victory over Duncan C. Ross. He lost that title the next year, on 7 August 1882, to

Joe Acton Joseph Acton (8 March 1852 – 26 June 1917), known by his ringname "Little Joe" or "Limey Joe", was a British professional wrestler and world champion who competed in England and America during the late 19th century. Acton is one of a handful ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. Bibby's final wrestling match was against

Sorakichi Matsuda Matsuda Sorakichi (1859 – August 16, 1891) was a Japanese professional wrestler of the 19th century. He became a feature attraction in America, competing in a distinctly western sport, long before it was adopted in Japan. Background Sorakichi ...

, whom he defeated on 28 October 1887, in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

. On 5 May 1905, Bibby died from

rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including a ...

at the age of 56. He is buried in Saint Patrick's Cemetery in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

Fall River, Massachusetts Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States census, making it the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, tenth-largest city in the state, and the second- ...

alongside his wife Mary Ann who died in 1929 and their son Thomas who died in 1950. Bibby's son Tom donated the Championship silver belt that can allegedly still be found at a Lancashire museum. Edwin bibby

Notable opponents

* Duncan C. Ross: Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion on 19 January 1881. *

Clarence Whistler Clarence Whistler (February 24, 1856 - November 6, 1885) was a professional athlete and champion Greco-Roman wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestler of the 1880s. As the main rival to William Muldoon in wrestling of the early 1880s, he was best remember ...

: Drew to Clarence Whistler twice, 19 November 1880, and 21 December 1880. He lost to Whistler on 8 June 1883. *

William Muldoon William Muldoon (May 25, 1852 – June 3, 1933) was an American Greco-Roman Wrestling champion, a physical culturist, and the first chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission. He once wrestled a match that lasted over seven hours. Nick ...

: Lost to Muldoon 2–0 on 2 March 1881. *

: Lost to Acton in 38 minutes on 7 August 1882. * Carl Abs: Lost to Carl Abs in Germany on 30 April 1885. *

: Defeated Sorakichi in his final fight, 28 October 1887.

Championships and accomplishments

Catch wrestling Catch wrestling (also known as catch-as-catch-can) is an English wrestling style where wrestlers aim to win by Pin (sport wrestling), pinning or Submission (combat sports), submitting their opponent using any legal holds or techniques. It emph ...

** American Catch-as-Catch-can Championship (1 time) *

Professional Wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

American Heavyweight Championship The American Heavyweight Wrestling Championship was the first heavyweight professional wrestling championship in the United States. The title existed from 1881 through approximately 1922. Title history See also *Professional wrestling in the ...

( 1 time) **World Heavyweight Championship ''(Great Britain version)'' (1 time)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bibby, Edwin 1848 births 1905 deaths 19th-century professional wrestlers British catch wrestlers English emigrants to the United States English male professional wrestlers Sportspeople from Ashton-under-Lyne Naturalized citizens of the United States