Theodor Lichtenhein

Theodor (Theodore) Lichtenhein (January 1829, Königsberg – 19 May 1874, Chicago) was an American chess master.

Born at Königsberg, in East Prussia, he learned chess at the age of 12, and six years afterwards, he was president of the Königsberg Chess Club. He studied at first for the medical profession, and afterwards entered the service of the Prussian army. [ [http://batgirl.atspace.com/congressplayers.html First American Chess Congress Opponents ] ]

He came to the US in the November 1851 aboard the ship "Henry Clay", and pretty much forgot about chess and devoted all his time to his mechantile wholesale business. Then in 1856, he joined the New York Chess Club and soon became its strongest member. In the 1st American Chess Congress held in New York in 6 October – 10 November 1857, and won by Paul Morphy, he bore off the third prize. He won against Charles Henry Stanley (3 : 2) in 1st round, beat Frederick Perrin (3 : 0) in 2nd round, lost to Morphy (0.5 : 3.5) in semifinal, and beat Benjamin Raphael (3 : 0) in the 3rd place final. [ [http://batgirl.atspace.com/CongressResults.html Book of the 1st American Chess Congress - Results ] ] [ [http://xoomer.alice.it/cserica/scacchi/storiascacchi/tornei/1851-99/1857NewYork.htm New York ] ]

Lichtenhein was elected the New York CC's president in 1858. He drew with Perrin (1 : 1) in a match New York vs. Brooklyn in 1860, and won a match against Hardman Philips Montgomery (7.5 : 2.5) at Philadelphia 1861. [ [http://xoomer.alice.it/cserica/scacchi/storiascacchi/matches/1850-64.htm matches1850-64 ] ] He served as a Major in the 58th Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Civil War, acting also as a correspondant for Frank Leslies' Illustrated Newspaper. [chessgames player|id=39972]

References