Paul Morphy

"Morphy" redirects here. For other uses, see Morphy Paul Morphy
PaulmorphyHair.jpg
Full name Paul Charles Morphy
Country United States
Born June 22, 1837
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died July 10, 1884 (aged 47)
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
World Champion 185862 (unofficial)

Paul Charles Morphy (June 22, 1837 July 10, 1884) was an American chess player. He is
considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess
Champion.[1] He was a chess prodigy. He was called "The Pride and Sorrow of Chess" because he
had a brief and brilliant chess career, but retired from the game while still young.[2]

Morphy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to a wealthy and distinguished family. He learned to
play chess by simply watching games between his father and uncle. His family soon realized the
boy's talent and encouraged him to play at family gatherings and by age nine he was considered
one of the best players in New Orleans. At just twelve years old, Morphy defeated visiting
Hungarian master Johann Lwenthal in a match of three games.

After receiving his degree in 1857, Morphy was not yet of legal age to practice law and found
himself with free time. He received an invitation to play at the First American Chess Congress in
New York City and, at his uncle's urging, accepted. Morphy won the tournament which included
strong players of the day, such as Alexander Meek and Louis Paulsen. Morphy was hailed as the
chess champion of the United States and stayed in New York playing chess through 1857, winning
the vast majority of his games. In 1858, Morphy travelled to Europe to play European Champion
Howard Staunton. While negotiations for a match proved problematic, Morphy played every
strong player in Europe, usually winning easily. While the match with Staunton never came about,
Morphy was hailed by most in Europe as the world's best player.

Returning to the United States in triumph, the accolades continued as he toured the major cities
playing chess on his way back to New Orleans. By 1859, on returning to New Orleans, Morphy
declared he was retiring from chess to begin his law career. However, Morphy was never able to
establish a successful law practice and ultimately lived a life of idleness, living off his family's
fortune. Despite appeals from his chess admirers, Morphy never returned to the game, and died in
1884 from a stroke at the age of forty-seven.