Mine would be Harry Pillsbury. He lived around 100 years ago and is noted mainly from his dark horse victory at Hastings. He was also noted for his blindfold chess and feats of memory. He played many of the opening i prefer and I liked his personality. Most of my fellow united states americans would most likely pick Fischer but I will go with Pillsbury.

Capablanca.

Karpov is not dead though...

Capablanca.

I like the living ones.

capablanca,nimzowitsch

Hmm maybe Frank Marshall

Mikhail Tal & Alexander Alekhine are my favorites.

Tal and Morphy

toss up between Tal and Fischer