James Marshall

Died: 11 August 1926, Edinburgh

Mr Marshall was Scottish Champion in 1889. In 1890, he took an appointment in Japan and stayed there for 30 years, having become a partner in the firm of Findlay, Richardson & Co., Ltd., merchants, of Manila, Tokyo and Kobe, whose head offices were at 34 West George Street, Glasgow.

He returned to Scotland for good in 1920 and immediately resumed his connection chess, palying in the Scottish championships of 1921 and 1922, being elected president of the Glasgow CC in 1921, and of the Scottish Chess Association in 1922.

He died while playing in the lightning tournament at the British Chess Federation Congress at the Albyn Rooms, Edinburgh. He had travelled from his home at 30 Claredon Place, Stirling to see the championship tournament, and decided to take part in the lightning event. He won his first game, but later collapsed at the board and died a few minutes later, despite medical assistance from other competitors. At the time of his death Mr Marshall was wearing the gold watch presented to him by his colleagues whenhe left to take up his appointment in Japan, all those years before.

Sources: BCM 1926, p 417, using information from the Falkirk Herald ; The Scotsman of Thursday, 12 August 1926, p 7.

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland