George Henry McKenzie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Henry McKenzie (Mackenzie) (born March 24, 1837, Bellefield, Ross-shire, Scotland – died April 14, 1891, New York City) was a Scottish–American chess master.

He was educated mainly in Aberdeen, at the grammar-school and the Marischal College in that city; but he studied in Rouen, France, and Stettin, Prussia, during 1853-1855. He entered the British army when he was nineteen years of age. Soon after, his regiment was sent to the Cape of Good Hope, and thence to India. He returned to England in 1858, having been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 1861 he sold his commission and retired from the army. In 1862, Mackenzie won a handicap tournament in London in which he defeated Adolf Anderssen. In 1863, during the middle of the American Civil War, he moved to the United States.

Mackenzie’s international successes came after a fifteen year period in the United States, from 1865 through 1880, when he amassed a record of thirteen straight first place finishes in tournaments, while winning six of seven matches, with only one drawn. His success in this country included first place at Cleveland 1871, Chicago 1874, and New York 1880, the second, third, and fifth American Chess Congresses, respectively.

Since that time he has played in all the tournaments both at home and abroad. In 1878, he tied for 4-5th in Paris. In 1882, he tied for fourth in Vienna (Wilhelm Steinitz and Szymon Winawer won). In 1883, he tied for 5-7th in London (Johannes Zukertort won). In 1885, he took 4th place in Hereford, and took 7th in Hamburg 1885. In 1886, he tied for 7-8th in London.

Finally, Captain Mackenzie capped the climax of his chess achievements by winning the first prize, ahead of Blackburne, Zukertort, Englisch, Weiss, Bardeleben, Tarrasch and L.Paulsen, in 5th German Championship at Frankfurt-on-the-Main 1887. He won 5th Scottish Championship at Glasgow 1888. He came 2nd at Bradford 1888, and tied for 3rd-4th at Manchester 1890.