Thomas William Burgess, English swimmer and water polo player (b. 1872)
Thomas William Burgess (15 June 1872 – 2 July 1950) was the second person to successfully complete a swim of the English Channel after Matthew Webb. He performed the feat on 6 September 1911, on his 16th attempt. British by nationality, Burgess spent most of his life in France, and won a bronze medal with the French water polo team at the 1900 Olympics.In 1926 he coached Gertrude Ederle who became the first woman to swim the English Channel.