Unfortunately, Isaac Bressy Smith doesn't seem to have left much of evidence behind to justify his claim. In September 1860, the East London Observer began a chess column edited by I. B. Smith - described as, 'A gentleman of considerable ability as a Chess-player' - but it didn't last beyond November of that year. As for Cambridge, the alumni database returns no results for an Isaac Smith during the 1840s when he might have been a student. As for being, 'an old habitué of Simpson's', is there any evidence he did more than eat roast dinner there?Suffolk and Essex Free Press - Wednesday 18 March 1908
A NOTABLE CHESS-PLAYER'S DEATH.
In our obituary column last week appeared I a notice of the interment of Mr. Isaac Bressy Smith, a commercial traveller, whose age was given as 83. The old gentleman's career was one which had some features of interest. We believe that he formerly travelled as agent for Kelly's Directory. Deceased was the son of a Post Captain of the Royal Navy, his father dying in 1871, after serving his country for thirty years in our "first line of defence." For about fifteen years since his father's death Mr. Smith had been receiving a certain sum from the Admiralty, and also one from the Naval Benevolent Society. But the principal point of interest about the old gentleman was his ardent love of, and his skill in, the game of chess. He used to say with pride that Blackburne had described him as the best amateur chess-player in England. However that may be, there was no disputing his knowledge of the game. He was, when in London, an old habitué of Simpson's, and was fond of telling stories of opponents, and like the old soldier in the "Deserted Village" who shouldered his crutch to show how fields were won, would place his pieces on the board to go again through the moves which had pierced or crushed his antagonists. He had many games with opponents in Sudbury, and they almost invariably fell victims to his knowledge of the openings or of his finesse in the endings. He was ever keen for a game. He was said to be related to Captain Cook, and to have the great explorer's sword in his possession, as well as other interesting relics. He played much chess when at Cambridge, and his portrait was presented to him by the members of the Club. Well educated and widely travelled, he was a good conversationalist. He never ceased to wear a tall silk hat, and his venerable figure will be missed from the streets of Sudbury.
I'm even beginning to suspect he wasn't related to Captain Cook.