Paul Morphy

Paul Morphy (1837-1884) was an American chess player who “defeated three of Europe’s leading masters in 1858 and then retired from the game” [The Oxford Companion to Chess (1992), 263].

            Morphy developed phenomenal talent for chess at an early age [see https://www.chess.com/article/view/greatest-chess-prodigies-of-all-time]. He went on to triumph in Europe with victories over leading players, and “proving to himself and his contemporaries that he was the best player in the world” (OCC, 263). In 1859 in New York City, a grand testimonial dinner was given in his honor, featuring famous American “celebrities.”

            After this, Morphy retired from chess. He played casually with friends; but no serious games. Morphy became “increasingly withdrawn from society” and “suffered in his last years from delusions of persecution” before his death in 1884 (OCC, 263).

The Crossword below features aspects of Morphy’s life—some well-known, others, less well-known.

One interesting note is that in New Orleans, the French-Quarter two story mansion constructed in 1795, at 417 Royal Street, was owned—from 1841-1891—by the Morphy family. It is the house where Morphy lived until his death in 1884. It is now a Brennan's restaurant [See “Brennan’s” in Wikipedia; cf. other images of Morphy’s House at https://www.chess.com/blog/LogansportHS/morphys-house-in-new-orleans]

Enjoy these reminiscences of Paul Morphy!

For the Solution to the Crossword, click the Solution button below.

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