11-10-2013, 11:28 AM
Craig's query, to which I don't know the answer (sorry), had me dipping my toes in finding out about some of the historical figures in Scottish Chess.
A brief (for now) bit of reading on the intriguing life of Captain MacKenzie left more questions than answers. What were his early years in North Kessock like? Where did he live and grow up? He studied in Aberdeen, France and Prussia, according to Wikipedia but what did he study and why did he study abroad? What were his army experienced like in Africa and India? Why did he emigrate to America? Was he an early mercenary? Did he desert the US army?
What about the conspiracy theories surrounding his death and what exactly were the "recent convivial habits" which were referred to in the 15 April 1891 edition of the New York Times and are "supposed to have contributed to exhaust his vitality."
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter98.html">http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter98.html</a><!-- m --> - 7772. G.H. Mackenzie’s death
I noticed that Captain MacKenzie was the fifth Scottish Champion and so went looking for the first. Wikipedia had nothing on John Crum and I skipped Daniel Yarnton Mills for now, as Georges Emile Barbier, winner in 1886 didn't sound very Scottish and perhaps promised more of a story. While reading up on Monsieur Barbier I came across what I think is a nice problem that he set in the Glasgow Evening Citizen way back in 1895 - It seems fairly straightforward but is it or as it is decribed on the French chess problem website -
It's white's move.
[pos]8/8/1KP5/3r4/8/8/8/k7[/pos]
A brief (for now) bit of reading on the intriguing life of Captain MacKenzie left more questions than answers. What were his early years in North Kessock like? Where did he live and grow up? He studied in Aberdeen, France and Prussia, according to Wikipedia but what did he study and why did he study abroad? What were his army experienced like in Africa and India? Why did he emigrate to America? Was he an early mercenary? Did he desert the US army?
What about the conspiracy theories surrounding his death and what exactly were the "recent convivial habits" which were referred to in the 15 April 1891 edition of the New York Times and are "supposed to have contributed to exhaust his vitality."
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter98.html">http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter98.html</a><!-- m --> - 7772. G.H. Mackenzie’s death
I noticed that Captain MacKenzie was the fifth Scottish Champion and so went looking for the first. Wikipedia had nothing on John Crum and I skipped Daniel Yarnton Mills for now, as Georges Emile Barbier, winner in 1886 didn't sound very Scottish and perhaps promised more of a story. While reading up on Monsieur Barbier I came across what I think is a nice problem that he set in the Glasgow Evening Citizen way back in 1895 - It seems fairly straightforward but is it or as it is decribed on the French chess problem website -
Quote:La position initiale est d'une simplicité déconcertante et la solution élégante.
It's white's move.
[pos]8/8/1KP5/3r4/8/8/8/k7[/pos]
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.scotchesstour.co.uk">http://www.scotchesstour.co.uk</a><!-- m -->