History
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Jun 1, 2008
0
#2
The game was played by John Quincy Adams (no evidence of his father playing), Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Ulysses Grant, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, General George McClellan, James Monroe, and George Washington
Is there any records of their games, books or pictures. I wonder what kind of pieces they played with.
Thanks for the info.
OSUBUCKEYE wrote:
I would love to start a topic concerning the history of Chess. Dose anyone know if the Founding Fathers of American played. Or if the game was big during the Civil War?
Benjamin Franklin loved the game of chess. In fact, you can read a little essay he wrote about the virtues of chess on my chess fan site. Bill Wall also has a good collection of Franklin and his chess adventures here. For pictures of some Franklin chess equipment, look here.
You can read a little about Thomas Jefferson and chess, and see some of his pieces here.
Robert E. Lee played chess and took a little traveling chess set with him on his travels. You can see it here.
General McClellan played chess and you can see his set here.
President Lincoln also played chess and his set is now in the Smithsonian.
PS: Great question!
Thanks for the great info!!!
Let me check it out and if you do not mind I will write you back soon.
Jun 3, 2008
0
#6
A Photo of US Grant playing chess:
http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/oldsoldiers.html
Ben Franklin and Chess:
http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/BenFranklin.html
Some Civil War chess relics:
http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/civilwar.html
George Nelson Cheney, a promising player was killed at 1st Manassas:
http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/cheney.html
A little tidbit on J.Q. Adams and chess:
http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/JohnQuincyAdams.html
Jun 3, 2008
0
#7
During the time of the American Revolution and the years following, chess wasn't very big in America. Prior to going to France Franklin had complained about the lack of suitable opponents in America and found that aspect of France much to his liking. Chess sets were expensive and/or difficult to fabricate, books were rare and also expensive and common people didn't have the time, nor seemingly the inclination, to devote to chess. It was still a gentleman's advocation. Even during the American Civil War, following on the heels of Morphymania, chess, while more common, wasn't all that popular - checkers and cards were far more popular.
Some good stuff there, batgirl! Hey, how come that civil war chess set isn't like the ones we have today; you know, a Bobbie Lee for the King, a Jackson for the Rook....
Jun 4, 2008
0
#9
"Bobbie Lee for the King, a Jackson for the Rook"
Today a Civil War chess set might better have as the white pieces Jeff Davis as King, Varina Davis as Queen with RE Lee and Jackson as Bishops, JEB Stuart and Bedford Forest as Knights. Rooks .. hmm, maybe Longstreet and Johnston.
What do you think?
and propose for the Union side (the black pieces, of course)?
Jun 4, 2008
0
#10
An interesting tidbit is that Chess is taught as part of the curriculum at West Point
Some great information guys, I hop ethis thread keeps up and running with even more info and tidbits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jun 4, 2008
0
#12
Here at Chess.com we have several people who consistently turn out great articles on chess history. Anyone interested in that sort of thing will find valuable information and insight by visiting their pages of contributions.
Some articles are posted in their blogs, some in the article section. If you go their homepage (by clicking on their names below) and under Recent Activity, click on view content, you can bring up a chronological list of their postings regardless of it's location.
Bill Wall, the Cornucopia of Chess - if you can dream it, it's there.
RookHouse has contributed history articles of incredible depth and accuracy, incisively written.
Dr. Kurt Godden has excellent quality articles of various interests but most captivating to me is his series on the origins of opening names.
KenyTiger has a whole slew of Horowitz-inspired articles on great and/or clever games, each one a gem.
Batgirl seems to be resident librarian... gold star for being such a helpful person batgirl. :D
Back to work I go
Jun 4, 2008
0
#14
If we don't know the answer right away, we can probably find it with all our resources available. Most likely an article has been written covering some historical aspect of chess that someone is interested in. And don't forget to check out the chessopedia here.
Black would have to have ABE as the king, his wife as the Queen, Grant may.be as a knight.
Question for you all why do chess boards have to be so plan, why not have a Civil War set like we are talking about, set on a relief map of Gettysburg?
Just an idea, I often wonder why it is always black and white
They're not plain, they're chic.
nice catch there JauntyAngie
Jun 7, 2008
0
#18
"Black would have to have ABE as the king, his wife as the Queen, Grant may.be as a knight"
I see Abe Lincoln as King; Mary Todd Lincoln as Queen; US Grant as Bishop, William T. Sherman as Bishop; Sheridan as Knight, Geo. Stoneman as Knight; Geo. Meade as Rook, either David Porter or David Farragut as Rook.
Question:
It looks to me as if your into all History and not just Chess. Is that ture?
I would love to start a topic concerning the history of Chess. Dose anyone know if the Founding Fathers of American played. Or if the game was big during the Civil War?