Brede, Ferdinand born in Stettin, Poland. Problemist.

Grimm, Vincent born in Vienna. Grimm attack.

Stalemate; Last time stalemate is a win for the side whose King is stalemated, in England.

Schlumberger born in Mulhouse. Teacher of St Amant. Operated the Turk.

Basterot, Barthelemy born in Dublin.

Saint-Amant born at Cheteau Latour. Leading French player.

Del Rio completed another Chess book, which remained unpublished.

Del Rio, Ercole died. Nicknamed the anonymous Modenese.

First American Chess book - “Chess Made Easy”, published in Philadelphia.

Anastasia’s mate, with Knight & Rook, published by Heinse, Wilhelm (1746-1803).

Bryan, Thomas born in Philadelphia. Bryan variation.

Turk; Anthon exhibits Turk in London.

03/13  Walker, George born. English Chess writer and organizer.

06/22 Heinse, Wilhelm died in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Wrote about Anastasia’s mate.

First authenticated correspondence match - The Hague vs. Breda. (BCM 1974,141).

Napoleon Bonaparte plays the Alekhine’s defense.

Philidor; The name “Philidor’s Legacy”, first used in book by Pruen.

Verdoni died.  Italian player.

03/26 Kempelen, inventor of the first automaton, Turk, died.  Aulic Counselor on mechanics to the Royal Chamber.

05/15 d’Orville, Pierre born in St Petersburg. Problemist.

Book; First original American Chess book published in Boston.

Szen born in Pesth, Hungary. Founded Budapest Chess Club.

Maelzel buys the Turk from Kempelen’ son.

Sarratt reputedly the best player in England until his death in 1819.

01/01 Kieseritzky born, Tartu. Strong French player of his day.

Stalemate becomes a draw in England after persuasion by Sarratt.

Club; London Chess Club founded.

Worrall, Thomas born. British Commissioner in Mexico.

03/17 Mongredian born. President of London Chess Club and Liverpool Chess Club.

07/11 Atwood, George died in London. Played Philidor and recorded Philidor’s games.

Sarratt; Treatise on the game of Chess by J. Sarratt, published.

Sarratt is Chess pro at Salopian Coffee House, London.

05/10 Horwitz, Bernhard born in Neustrelitz, Germany. One of the Pleiades.

12/17 Allen, George born in Milton Township, VT. Chess author and nephew of Ethen Allen.

Zurich Chess Club, oldest Chess Club in Europe, founded.

Turk; The Turk (Allgaier) defeats Napoleon at Schonbrunn. (game - CR 1/47, 16).

06/09 Bruhl, John (Hans) died in London.

Williams; Elijah Williams born, Bristol. English Chess master.

Eon de Beaumont, Charles died. (d’eon) Transvestite.

Rousseau, Eugene born. French player.

02/02 Hanneken, Hermann von, born in Viecheln, Mecklenburg. Prussian General. Hanneken Defense.

03/ Staunton born, Westmoreland. Leading player of the 1840’s.

07/15 Lowenthal born, Budapest. Strong British player.

First time the openings written in tabular form, in Allgier’s book.

Beauharnais, Napoleons’s stepson, buys the Turk for 30,000 francs.

Kling born, Mainz. Composer and pioneer endgame analyst.

Last known copy of the first practical Chess book (1495), destroyed.

08/03 Hanstein, Wilhelm born in Berlin. Magazine founder. Hanstein gambit. Elo: 2480.

02/29 Hirschbach, Hermann born in Berlin. Hirschbach variation.

Sarratt publishes the works of Damaino, Ruy Lopez, and Salvio.

07/09 First newspaper Chess column in “Liverpool Mercury.” Ran until 1819.

08/23 Jaenisch born. Resigned his army commission to play Chess.

Wyvill, Marmaduke born. Placed 2nd in the London 1851 tournament.

Shastri writes “Essays on Chess”, Bombay. Known as the Brahmin. First Indian problems.

Hamppe, Carl born in Vienna. Elo: 2410. Hamppe opening.

07/08 Howe, Henry born in Guildford, England. Canadian champion 1877.

09/21 Bilguer, Paul born in Ludwigslust, Germany. Wrote Handbuch Des Schachspiels.  A Pleides.

Maelzel supposedly invents the Metronome; swiped from Winkel.

11/17 Hicks, William born in Portsmouth, England. Canadian champion 1874.

Schliemann born. Played the Schliemann defense in the 1860’s.

Maelzel repurchases the Turk. Exhibits in Paris.

Sarratt publishes works on Gianutio and Selenius.

10/10 Dubois, Serafino born in Rome. Elo: 2550

Lasa; Tassilo von der Lasa born. Conceived of a German opening handbook.

07/06 Anderssen, Adolf born in Breslau (now Wroclaw), Germany.

09/ Turk in London. Operator is William Lewis, Champion of England.

10/17 Heydebrand un der Lasa, Tassilo born in Berlin.

Kenny, W.S. publishes his “Practical Chess Grammar”.

Allgaier publishes detailed analysis of the Allgaier gambit.

Brunet y Bellet, Jose born in Barcelona.

Williams, then Mouret operate the Turk.

06/27 Falkbeer, Ernst born in Brno, Czechoslovakia. Edited ‘The Chess Players’, magazine. Elo: 2410.

09/ Stanley born in Brighton. Strong American master. Died in 1901.

11/06 Sarratt died impoverished. Strongest English player of his day.

Kann; Marcus Kann born in Vienna. Published analysis of Caro-Kann in 1886.

Turk; Robert Willis published a book in which he analyzed the Turk.

01/ Bayer, Aloys displays his ‘Bavarian Boy’ automaton in Munich.

12/08 Frere, Thomas born in New York City. Wrote Chess handbook.

Butrimov; First Russian manual on Chess published, by Butrimov.

New Treatise of Chess by Sarratt is first to have a beginner's section.

Twiss, Richard died. Chess author.

Weber; Albrecht Weber born. First to investigate Indian literature for references to Chess.

Willis, Robert published an article about a hidden operator in the Turk in “The Edinburgh Philosophical Journal”.

08/12 Ware; Preston Ware born in Boston. Played in the US ch in 1880. President of The American Chess Foundation.

11/24 Buckle, Henry born in Kent. Historian and leading British player. Read 12 languages. Elo: 2480

Allen; L. Allen writes Chess in Europe during the 13th century.

Divan, famous Chess room in London, founded by Samuel Ries.

First Chess column to appear in a periodical, by Walker for Lancet.

01/03 Allgaier, Johann died in Vienna of dropsy. Strong master from Vienna.

04/29 Harrwitz, Daniel born in Breslau, Poland. Strong German player of his day. Elo: 2520.

09/30 Gottschall, Rudolf born in Breslau, Poland. Founder of the German Chess Federation.

Evans discovered the Evans gambit.

Herzfeld, Sebastian born in Austria. Physician. Herzfeld defense.

Beauharnois, Prince Eugene died. Bought the Turk for a brief time.

04/ Scotch opening named from the Edinburgh-London match.

04/23 First matches between London & Edinburgh. Edinburgh won in July 1826.

10/22 Hookham, Henry born in London. New Zealand champion 1890.

Barnes, Thomas born in Falmouth, England. Scored more wins than anyone else against Morphy.

Ben Oni by Reinganun, published in Frankfurt. First mention of Benoni.

Benoni named after book published by Aaron Reinganum.

Parsloe’s, a famous Chess club in London, closed.

09/25 Hooper, Charles Alfred, creater of Ajeeb, born in Bristol, England.

12/20 Maelzel sails for America with Turk to escape debts and lawsuits (BCM 1977, 401).

Schlumberger arrives in America.

02/03 Maelzel landed in New York with the Turk.

04/04 Boden, Samuel born in Hull. Morphy considered him strongest English player.

04/13 Turk first exhibition in the US, in New York. Operator is a French woman.

05/30 Blackmar, Armand born in Bennington, VT. Originated the Blackmar gambit in 1881.

07/ Edinburgh won first Chess match against London. Started in 1924.

09/13 Turk exhibited in Boston.

10/01 Schlumberger arrives in Boston to operate the Turk.

12/22 The Turk arrives in Philadelphia.

First Chess club in Philadelphia formed after the Turk visits the city.

Owen, John ('Alter') born. Strong English player.

05/ Two youths observe the operator emerge from the Turk.

Urusov, Sergei born. Chess-playing Russian prince.

05/ Walker; Daniel Walker builds an automaton, The American Chessplayer.

05/30 Brown, John born in Bridport, England. Problemist.

06/01 Carroll, Charles age 84, plays The Turk. Signed declaration of independence.

06/01 Baltimore Gazette revealed how the Turk operated with a hidden operator.

Ranken, Charles born. First president of the Oxford University Chess club.

Tolstoy, Leo born. Russian Chess novelist and Chess fanatic.

04/15 From, Martin born in Nakskov, Denmark. From’s gambit named after him.

09/ Turk returns to Europe.

11/10 Bayer, Conrad born in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia. Prize-winning problemist.

First book entirely devoted to one opening, published in India.

Abbazia Defense of the Kings’s gambit 1st published by Silberschmidt.

Cochrane, James and Kassam wrote “The Muzio Gambit”, Madras 1829.

Correspondence between Madras and Hyderabad.

02/14 Dufresne, Jean born. German player and writer. Elo: 2370

04/ Turk returns to US.

04/21 Crosskill, Alfred born in Beverley, England. Endgame analyst.

Hamburger Schachklub, oldest Chess club in Germany, founded.

05/ Campbell, Joseph born in Cookstown, Ulster. Problemist

05/04 Riviere born. Strongest French player in the 1860’s.

05/04 de Riviere, Jules born in Nantes, France. Elo: 2450.

05/19 Cook, Eugene born in New York City. First American composer of note.

05/29 Edge, Frederick born in London. Journalist.

07/14 Bird, Henry born in Portsea, Hampshire. Leading British amateur player. Elo: 2440.

08/08 Cochrane, James died in Cheltenham, England. Wrote a book on the Muzio gambit in 1829.

08/16 MacDonnell, George born, Dublin. Chess columnist and author.

08/18 Freeborough, Edward born in Hull, England. Author.

Fraser, George born in Scotland. Scottish champion 1898; Fraser attack.

Lewis Chessmen discovered on the isle of Lewis (67 pieces). Oldest complete set.

“Progressive Lessons” by W. Lewis, published.

Westminster Chess club at Huttman’s founded by George Walker.

11/11 Fiske, Daniel born in Ellisburg, NY.  American editor, writer, and bibliophile.

12/27 Green, Valentine born in Knipton, England. Green variation.

Boultbee, William born in England. 1892 Canadian champion.

Madden writes “Historical Remarks on the Chessmen discovered in the isle of Lewis”.

“New Treatise on Chess” by G. Walker, published.

Petrov analyses the Petrov’s Defense.

03/12 Grimshaw, Walter born in Dewsbury, England.

08/07 Max Lange born in Leipzig.  Suggested the Max Lange attack in 1854.

Linde; Antonius van der Linde, Dutch Chess historian, born.

Henry, W.R. born. Pseudonym of William Russ. American archivist.

Mortimer, James born. Chess journalist.

01/15 Paulsen b. Lippe-Detmold, Germany, Master player.

02/05 Watkinson; John Watkinson born. Founder of the British Chess Magazine.

First match of consequence, the La Bourdonnais-McDonnell match.

Labourdonnais wins overall in series of 6 matches against McDonnell.

Mouret, former operator of the Turk, sells the secret to a magazine. (BCM 1977,373); First authentic revelation of the Turk.

Start of  match between Westminster Club and Cafe de la Regence.

Tennison, Otto born. Tennison gambit. Civil war commander.

Gumpel, Charles, builder of Mephisto, born in England.

Staunton Chessmen designed by Nathaniel Cook.

Ahlhausen, Carl born in Germany. Librarian of the Berlin Chess Association.

Pratt, Peter died. Chess author.

Walker starts as editor of Chess column in Bell’s Life for 38 years.

Congdon, James born in New York. Elected President of the National Chess Association in 1874.

01/04 First appearance of G. Walker's “Bell’s Life in London”.

01/23 Fiske, William born in Ellisburg, NY. Chess player, musician, and Chess columnist.

09/14 McDonnell died in London of Bright’s disease. Greatest Irish player.

First Chess magazine ‘Le Palamede’ published in Paris by La Bourdonnais and J Mery.

Kling publishes analysis of R and B vs. R endgame in Le Palamede.

Schwarz, Adolf born. Hungarian-born player.

St Amant beats Walker in match at London Chess Club.

St Amant is the first to suggest a time limit to Chess.

Staunton on subscription list for collection of MacDonnell’s games by Walker.

04/ Poe writes a famous article in ‘The Southern Literary Messenger’ on how the Turk operates.

05/14 Steinitz born according to Dr Hermann Neustadtl (BCM 1974,76).

1836/05/17 Wilhelm Steinitz born in Prague. World champion 1886-1894. Challenger 1897.

First comprehensive survey of openings published by Alexandre in Paris.

Kolisch born. Pressburg, Hungary. Chess patron.

Pleides, a group of Berlin players, formed.

Alexandre introduces standard notation and the castling symbol.

Benima, Levi born. Dutch champion in 1881, 1883.

England’s First Chess magazine, The Philidorian founded by Walker.

Liverpool Chess Club, founded.

Mouret, Jacques died. Turk operator. Nephew of Philidor.

Rosenthal, Samuel born. Journalist and Chess teacher.

01/11 Holloway, Alfred born in Bristol, England. Holloway defense.

03/24 Mackenzie born. North Kessock, Scotland. German champion 1887. Scottish champion 1888.

04/30 Gilbert, Ellen (ne Strong) born in Leverett, MA. Player and Queen of Chess.

06/22 Paul Morphy born in New Orleans.

11/09 Maelzel, Schlumberger, and the Turk sailed for Havana.

First use of the term Grandmaster in connection with Chess.

The Philidorian discontinued after 6 issues.

‘Chessboard Companion’ by Lewis, published. Ran thru 9 editions.

Staunton joins Old Westminster Chess Club.

01/16 Brentano, Franz born in Marienburg, Germany. Published analysis on openings.

02/ Schlumberger died. St Amant's teacher. The Turk operator. Got yellow fever while in Havana.

02/24 Guretzky-Cornitz, Bernhard born in Berlin. Endgame analyst.

03/05 Winawer born, Warsaw. German champion, 1883.

07/21 Maelzel found dead in berth off Charleston; buried at sea.

07/25 Boren, Per born in Linkoping, Sweden. Boren variation.

09/14 Maelzel’s property sold at public auction in Philadelphia. Ohl buys Turk for $400.

12/15 Neumann born in Gleinitz. Strong German master.

First Chess magazine, Le Palamede, ends.

Budapest Chess Club founded by Josef Szen.

Kieseritsky wins a 100 game match against E. Rousseau at the Cafe de la Regeance.

New York Chess Club formed by James Thompson.

Turk purchased by Dr John Mitchell.

Penny postcard for Chess led to a boom in Postal Chess.

Staunton is Secretary of the Westminster Chess Club.

“Chess Player’s Chronicle” is first successful Chess magazine in the English language.

Othodox problem developed as an art form we know today.

Potter, William born. Leading English player of the 1870’s.

Staunton beats Popert in London match.

Staunton bought magazine & converted into Chess Player’s Chronicle.

01/04 Hanham, James born in Woodville, MS. Introduced the Hanham variation in 1889. Major, USA.

05/ Staunton began writing a Chess column in the ‘New Court Gazette’.

09/16 Bilguer, Paul died (age 27) in Berlin. A Lt. in the Prussian Army.

11/ Turk given to Chinese Museum in Philadelphia.

12/ Staunton ends writing a Chess column in the New Court Gazette.

12/13 Bourdonnais, Louis Charles de la, died in London.

12/13 de Labourdonnais, Louis died in London.

12/13 la Bourdonnais died in London, of dropsy. World class player.

First Chess Association formed, the Yorkshire Chess Association.

First Chess periodical, Chess Player's Chronicle, by Staunton. Lasted until 1854.

Tournament first used a Chess term at Leeds.

Walker’s “New Treatise” is first popular Chess book sold at a low price.

01/30 Loyd born in Philadelphia. Most famous American composer.

02/18 Ascher, Jacob born in Plymouth, England.

04/28 Goring, Carl born in Bruheim, Germany. Goring gambit.

09/12 Delmar, Eugene born in New York City. Elo 2420. Delmar variation.

11/26 Leonard; James Leonard born NY. Played 8 games blindfolded.

12/ St Amant revived Le Palamede, a monthly magazine until 1847.

12/ Stanley beats Staunton in a match (BCM 1982,365).

12/06 Gossip, George born in NY. He was last place in many tournaments. Elo: 2310.

12/10 Blackburne, Joseph born in Manchester. British champion 1868, 1914. German champion 1881. Elo: 2570.

First openings analyses on modern lines, published.

Anderssen publishes a collection of Chess problems.

Chambers, John born in Scotland.

Hoffer, Leopold born in Budapest. Editor of the Chess Monthly.

Rousseau emigrates to the US; defeats B. Oliver and J. Schulten in matches.

Stanley emigrates from London to New York to work in the British Consulate.

06/25 First appearance of ‘The Illustrated London News’, oldest Chess column.

09/07 Zukertort born, Lublin. World championship challenger in 1886.

First edition of Bilguer’s ‘Handbuch des Schachspiels.’

First known photograph of ‘Chessplayers’.

Benoni First played by St Amant against Staunton. Called Staunton defence.

Chess Player’s Chronicle becomes a shilling monthly magazine.

Jaenisch publishes analysis of Chess.

Minckwitz, Johannnes born. Chess author.

Sonneborn, William born.

Stanley emigrates to New York.

Staunton gambit actually played by St Amant against Staunton.

Staunton plays 1. c4, and becomes known as the English opening.

Walker; George Walker founded St George’s Chess Club at Hanover Square.

Wilson, Thomas Bright born. Invented first Chess clock.

04/18 Beechey, Frideswide born. Woman composer.

07/ St Amant (+2=1-2) beats Staunton in London and wins 1 guinea.

08/01 Schallopp born. German player and stenographer of the Reichstag.

11/14 First use of seconds for Staunton (Wilson,Evans, Worrell) and St Amant.

11/14 Staunton-St Amant match, at Cafe de la Regence, Paris.

12/18 Cordel, Oscar born in Ascherslebben, Germany. Cordel variation.

12/20 Staunton defeats St Amant, 11 wins, 6 losses, 4 draws, in Paris match. Wins 100 pounds.

12/20 Staunton’s victory over St Amant marks the end of French supremacy.

First Telegraph match played between Washington and Baltimore.

First Boden’s mate (mate with 2 Bishops), Horwitz-Popert, Hamburg.

Ghulam Kassim died in India. Ghulam Kassim gambit. Co-author of first openings monograph.

Popert, H. died. One of the strongest players of his day.

Rothschild, Albert born. Chess patron.

Stanley beats Schulten twice.

Walker’s Chess Studies contains 1,020 games from 1780 to 1844.

Telegraph Chess first played between Washington and Baltimore.

02/24 Barbier, Georges born in Besancon, France.

First 2-dimensional pocket Chess set devised by Peter Roget.

Defeat of Paris in a correspondence match ends French supremacy.

The “Indian” problem, published in CPC, starts Chess compositions.

White; John White, book collector, born.

Pocket set first designed by Peter Mark Roget (1779-1869).

Stakes - first game for national championship is Stanley-Rousseau for stakes of $1,000.

Williams becomes editor of the Field Column.

Staunton writes most influential column in “Illustrated London News”.

02/06 Rudge; Mary Rudge born. Won First International Women’s tourney, 1897.

02/14 Vere; Cecil de Vere (Valentine Brown), born in Torquay. British champion 1866, 1868, 1872.

02/14 de Vere, Cecil (ne Brown) born in England. Elo: 2450. Winner of first British championship, 1866.

03/01 First US Chess column in “The Spirit of The Times”, NY, by Stanley.

First Chess problem in the US appears in “The Spirit of The Times”.

04/09 Staunton & Kennedy in Gosport, play Walker, Buckle, Evans in London by Telegraph.

04/11 Berger, Johann born in Graz. Strong player, editor, and author. Elo: 2495.

07/08 Charlick, Henry, First Australian Chess champion (1887), born in London.

11/10 Fleissig, Max born in Csenger, Hungary. Fleissig gambit.

12/01 Stanley wins, 15 wins, 8 losses, 8 draws. (BCM 1982,365).

12/01 Stanley-Rousseau match was First organized Chess event in the US.

12/01 US Championship held at the Sazerac Coffee House, New Orleans between Stanley and Rouseau.

US Championship was $1000 winner take all. First to win 15 games, draws not counting.

First time Chess notation with figurines appeared.

Chess Palladium, an American Chess monthly, come out.

First German magazine published; oldest Chess magazine still in existence.

Anderssen joins the editorial staff of Schachzeitung Chess magazine.

Kieseritzky defeated Horwitz (+7=1-4) at London.

Sarratt; Mrs. Sarratt gave Chess lessons to the aristocracy in Paris.

Schulten beats Stanley.

Stanley publishes “31 Games of Chess”, first US book on a Chess match.

Stanley writes "31 Games at Chess", the rarest of US Chess books; First match book in US.

“The Beauties of Chess”, published. First large compilation of problems.

01/23 Clemenz, Hermann born in Tartu, Estonia. Clemenz opening.

05/30 Wisker born. First to win British championship twice in succession.

08/06 Bledow, Ludwig founder of the Pleiades, died in Berlin.

10/ First US Chess journal, American Chess Magazine, founded, C. Stanley.

10/ Second Chess magazine, “Chess Palladium & Mathematical Sphinx”, by Marache & Wilson (BCM 1982,365).

Saavedra born, Seville. Discovered the Saavedra move.

Several womens’ Chess clubs formed in the Netherlands.

Simpson’s, room at 101 The Stroud, London, famous for Chess.

Stanley challenges any player except Staunton, to a match.

Staunton first plays the Staunton gambit against Horwitz.

07/ “Chess Player's Handbook” by Staunton, is published in Bohn’s
  Scientific Library series.

09/ Last issue of “American Chess Magazine” by Stanley.

10/27 Deschapelles died in Paris. Gifted French player. French soldier.

12/ Last issue of “Le Palamede” monthly Chess magazine.

12/25 Shinkman born in Bohemia. The Wizard of Grand Rapids.

First Chess set and board for the blind made, by W. Wood.

First Chess column in a women’s magazine appeared in the Ladies Newspaper, London.

Hamppe of Vienna analyses the Vienna opening.

Stanley edits a Chess column in The Albion (1848-56).

09/14 Albin, Adolf born in Bucharest. Austrian theoretician, Chess writer & journalist.

10/14 First Chess column in the US, in “The Spirit of the Times”, ends.

11/02 Stanley starts Chess column in the Albion.

12/31 Burn, Amos born in Hull, England. German champion 1898. Elo: 2530.

First time the word ‘tournament’ applied to a real tournament - England.

“Chess Euclid” published by Kling, containing over 200 problems.

“Chess Player's Companion” by Staunton is published in 1849.

Kieseritzky edited “La Regence” until 1851. Used an obscure notation.

Max Lange originally analyses the Kieseritzky Attack.

01/ Buckle wins Ries Divan (London) knockout. First modern Chess tourney.

03/ Cook; Nathaniel Cook registers his Chess design (Staunton design).

08/29 Mills; Daniel Mills born, Stroud. Scottish champion 9 times. British amateur champion, 1890.

09/ Staunton recommends Cook’s Chess pieces in “Illustrated London News”.

11/19 Mason; James Mason born; Kilkenny, Ireland. Chess master and author.

12/15 Brede, Ferdinand died in Altona, Germany. Problemist.

12/29 Lowenthal arrives in NY. Political refugee.

Alexandre, Aaron died in London. Chess author and teacher.

Chatard, Eugene born in France. Chatard variation.

Cook, William born in Bristol, England. Wrote opening book. Cook variation.

Lowenthal establishes a cigar divan for Chess players on Cincinnati.

Staunton sold “Chess Players Chronicle”.

Taubenhaus, Jean born. Operated Mephisto.

02/11 The “Great Match” between Stanley and J. Turner begins in Washington, D.C.

02/14 Stanley defeats Turner, 11 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw.

02/22 Rice born in Germany. American industrialist and Chess patron.

05/04 Schiffers born. Known as Russia’s Chess teacher.

10/14 Hanstein, Wilhelm died in Magdeburg. Magazine founder. Hanstein gambit. Elo: 2480.

11/12 Chigorin, Mikhail born in St Petersburg. Elo: 2600.

11/12 Tchigorin born near St. Petersburg. Russian champion 1899, 1901, 1903.