Paul Morphy

290 Foundation

 VERBATIM 

 

This gilt, signed engraving of Paul Morphy hung for many years  on the walls of the Liverpool Chess Club until that establishment closed in 1938. Recently gifted to the 290 Foundation (BVI) Inc, it will be displayed appropriately in the months to come. Paul Morphy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to a wealthy and distinguished family. He learned to play chess by simply watching a game between his father and uncle. His family soon realized the boy’s talent and encouraged him to play at family gatherings and by age nine he was considered one of the best players in New Orleans. At just twelve years old, Morphy defeated visiting Hungarian master Johann Lowenthal in a match of three games. Receiving his law degree in 1857, Morphy was not yet of legal age to practice and found himself with considerable free time. He received an invitation to play at the First American Chess Congress in New York City. Morphy won the tournament which included several strong players of the day. Subsequently Morphy was hailed as the chess champion of the United States and stayed in New York playing chess through 1857, winning the vast majority of his games. In 1858, Morphy travelled to Europe to play European Champions, usually winning easily. While the much touted match with Chess Master Staunton never came about, Morphy was hailed by most in Europe as the world's best player.  Morphy returned to America in May, 1859, and was greeted with all the enthusiasm due a conquering hero. Morphy's embryonic law career however, was disrupted in 1861 by the outbreak of the American Civil War. Morphy’s brother Edward joined the army of the Confederacy although his mother and sisters emigrated to Paris. Paul Morphy’s Civil War service remains a rather gray area. He visited Richmond, Va., seeking to obtain an appointment in the diplomatic service of the Southern Confederacy but in this, he was 'seemingly' unsuccessful, returning then to New Orleans. He was there when the city was captured by the federal forces. At some point however, he was appointed to Beauregard’s staff and was certainly seen at Manassas. A reliable witness and resident of Richmond in 1861 described Morphy as then being 'an officer on Beauregard’s staff' though other sources indicate the General considered Morphy unqualified. Paul Morphy's intellect plus his many contacts abroad, were in fact of considerable use to the South for which he became both spy and unofficial 'ambassador' to European businessmen. In October, following the capture of New Orleans, we now know he escaped to Havana in a Spanish man-of-war, the Blasco de Garay and after remaining there a few weeks (?) sailed for Cadiz. From there he travelled on to Paris by rail where, apart from visits to London, he remained until the spring of 1865. Strangely, all records of Paul Morphy's activities, stored in the basement of a sheet iron and tin store belonging to a John R. Mountcastle, were 'accidentally' destroyed by fire in  August1868.   Following the war, despite several earnest endeavours, Morphy was never able to establish a successful law practice and was ultimately deemed to have lived a life of idleness, gaining support from his family's fortune. Despite appeals from his chess admirers, he never returned to the game. Returning from Europe in 1867 both his exploits as a world chess champion and secret, confederate agent were soon forgotten. He died in 1884 from a stroke at the age of forty-seven.