David Miller Latta

Born: September 1833 - 07 June 1895, Edinburgh

From the British Chess Magazine 1895, p 303: It is with deep regret that we have to record the death of Mr David Miller Latta, secretary of the Edinburgh Chess Club, which occurred suddenly on June 7th. From the Weekly Scotsman we learn that Mr Latta, who was a solicitor by profession, was born in Edinburgh, in September, 1833. He was a man of powerful build, but in consequence of disease which affected one of his legs, when he was about ten years of age, amputation was necessary, and the career of a man who might have figured with success in athletic pastimes was directed to the sedentary game of chess. From early infancy, Mr Latta played chess and practiced it in private circles. In 1875 he joined the Edinburgh Chess Club, and has ever since been one of the leading players in Edinburgh. He has held many offices in connection with the club, including member of council, vice-president, president, champion, and secretary. It was in his capacity as secretary that his most effective services were rendered, and his loss as such is irreparable. He devoted the utmost attention to the secretarial duties, and but for his invaluable assistance in an emergency, the continuation of the existence of the Edinburgh Chess Club - the oldest chess club in the United Kingdom - was endangered. In the second correspondence tournament of the Scottish Chess Association, in 1889, he won the first prize, with a score of 13½ wins out of a possible 15. He was for some time champion of the Edinburgh Chess Club, and he won first prizes in many tournaments in connection with the club. He acted as secretary for the East of Scotland in the matches of recent years between the East and the West of Scotland, and he played in all matches within the last twenty years, between the Edinburgh Chess Club and other clubs, and between the East and West of Scotland. Mr Latta was also an accomplished solver of problems. On the evening of Wednesday, 5th June, he was playing as usual at the Edinburgh Chess Club, and left it shortly after 11 p.m., along with a member with whom he had played a number of games. Shortly after his arrival home, Mr Latta was prostrated with a severe attack of heart disease, from which he never rallied, but gradually sank and died early in the morning of Friday, June 7th. The news of his death came as a great shock to the members of the Edinburgh Chess Club, by whom he was greatly esteemed. Mr Latta was unmarried.

Compiled by Alan McGowan