| Show the champion chess george henry mackenzie was born in boso shire scotland on march 24 1837 he was educated mainly in aberdeen at the marischal college in that city but he studied in bouen france aad prussia during 1853 54 and 55 during the next year he entered the british army as an ensign in the bilies soon after the regiment was sent to the cape of good hope and thence to india mr mackenzie returned to england in november 1858 having been promoted to the rank of lieutenant in he sold his commis sion and retired from the army meanwhile ho had attained considerable proficiency in ches shaving begun to practise the game in 1853 and being by this timo known in london clubs as a player of no little force and the fact was publicly demonstrated in when lie won the first prize of the handicap tournament in london at which many of the doughtiest dought iest european players of their day broke lances in the following year he came to america entered the union army and served therein until 1865 the first american chess congress was held under the auspices of the new york chess club as has been said in 1857 but it was not until 1871 that the next congress was held and in this at cleveland ohio captain mackenzie carried off the first prize the third congress came more quickly it convened at chicago in 1874 and hero again captain mackenzie captured the first prize in tho international chess congress of 1778 hold at paris ho was less fortunate gaining the fourth prize only but he had to meet a most formidable array of competitors his star blazed up afresh at the fifth american chess congress at now york in 1880 for here he again won the first prize tho next international congress was gathered in vienna in 1882 and there captain mackenzie tied with herr for the fourth prize at tho ensuing congress of london in 1883 ho tied with englisch and mason for tho fifth prize at hamburg in 1885 in a like assemblage he won the and finally at international chess congress of frankfort held this year 1887 captain mackenzie capped the climax of his chess achievements achieve menta by A aes winning ane first prize and with it the title of chess champion of the world it will be seen by this list of his moro prominent deeds that the champion bits not snatched his laurel by the of any mere freak of fortune grace he has not climbed in at the cabin windows his success bus been gain d rather as the fruit of long and patient effort the famous warrior of his race he has fought it out on his chosen line with dogged perseverance until the lofti est result the distinction has been fairly accomplished henry sedly in harpers magazine for march |
