Edwin Bibby (1848–1905) was an English wrestling champion during the 1870s and 1880s. He was a popular catch-as-catch-can style wrestler in his generation. He became the first American Heavyweight Champion in 1881.
Early life in England
Bibby was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, United Kingdom in 1848. He married Mary Ann Connelly (age 16) in 1867 and had 13 children, only three of whom survived. He began working as a coal miner in 1871.
Bibby began his wrestling career in 1872. He performed for Queen Victoria 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 and later Rhode Island, and became a naturalized citizen in 1900.
On January 19, 1881, Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion with his victory over Duncan C. Ross. He lost that title the next year, on August 7, 1882, to Joe Acton in New York City.
Bibby's final wrestling match was against Sorakichi Matsuda, whom he defeated on October 28, 1887, in Buffalo, New York. In 1905, Bibby died from rheumatism. He is buried in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Bibby's championship silver belt can be found at a Lancashire museum.
