Post
by Tim Harding » Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:06 pm
As somebody invited me to contribute to this debate, I offer the following but do not claim it is anywhere near complete.
18th century:
1) Stamma (as was already mentioned);
2) Philidor (special case as he made several visits and was then trapped here by the Terror in the French Revolution and died in London).
Especially for the 19th century, which had many chess-playing immigrants and visitors, I would distinguish between:
a) Those who came to Britain and made it their permanent home (e.g. Gunsberg and Klein);
b) Those who died in Britain although their visits were never intended to be permanent (e.g. Labourdonnais);
c) Those who had long stays but eventually left again (e.g. Steinitz);
d) Those who were never permanent residents but spent several years based in the UK (e.g. Emanuel Lasker).
So in the 19th century:
a) Very large number, especially between the 1830s and 1870s. The most important were Horwitz, Löwenthal, Gunsberg, Zukertort, Hoffer (as a writer and organiser more than as a player), and Zytogorski. There were also numerous lesser players who ran chess resorts (J. H. Huttmann, Edward Löwe) or just played the game but were not professionals, e.g. Rosario Aspa, the musician Charles Halle, Sigismund Hamel, Franciscus Janssens, Steinkühler, and, arriving in the 1890s I think, Oscar Mueller. Maybe count here also James Mason who was Irish-American. Other long-stay Americans included James Mortimer and George Gossip.
b) Labourdonnais, Alexandre and probably others.
c) Falkbeer, Harrwitz, Steinitz, Rudolf Loman, Richard Teichmann all lived in London for substantial periods but ultimately left.
d) Before Emanuel Lasker (based in London about 1890-3, I think, but was frequently away), there was Kolisch (a couple of years circa 1860), and Philipp Hirschfeld (not sure how many years he was in England).
In the 20th century:
a) Apart from Ernst Klein, much discussed here already, Vera Menchik must be an outstanding example. Also consider Victor Buerger (family came from Russia before 1914), Imre König, Paul List, Dr H. G. Schenk and doubtless numerous other refugees from the Nazis. Then another wave after WW2 and in early 1950s, e.g. Kottnauer, Slade Milan (many times British correspondence champion: see my book) and Fazekas who has already been mentioned. Also Mieses was named at the start but how long did he live in the UK before he died? I have not tried to tink of players from Commonwealth countries but Bob Wade is an obvious case.
b) Cannot think right now of cases of players who died in the UK while on short or medium stays but doubtless there were some.
c) Seirawan (as a child), Max Fuller and Suba have been mentioned as people who had short periods of residence in the UK. There were probably a lot more. Tartakower is an interesting example: with the Free French during WW2. A special case is Wolfgang Heidenfeld (came to Ireland via South Africa but eventually retired to his native Germany and died there).
d) I expect there are many recent cases including people still living.
Also for the 20th/21st centuries I suppose there should be a new category (e) of strong female players who came to Britain and became UK citizens through marriage. Some have already been mentioned.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter
Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com