Born some time in the forties, Mr. Leopold Hoffer is native of Hungary, Buda-Pesth being the city which has the honour of having been the place of his birth. When about seventeen years of age he was taught the moves of chess so primitive for some time were his ideas of the game that he never suspected there was anything more in it than to change off the pieces as fast as possible, according to their power of moving. When, however, one of his cousins, who was good player, lifted the veil by showing him glimpse of the true character of the game, he took earnestly to it, attracted by its new and fascinating aspect. Starting at the odds of Queen and beating, our embryo editor's interest was thoroughly aroused he quickly improved, and it was not long ere he could compete successfully with his cousin on even terms. He was still, however, accorded the odds of Rook by Joseph Berger and Adolf Schwarz.

Vienna was his abode in 1865, and early in 1866 he travelled through Germany on his way to Paris there he met Rosenthal, who gave him the Knight, but he soon became too strong for such odds and rapidly rose to the rank of first-class player, in fact, one of the strongest in Paris.

In 1870 he came to London and settled here. He at once showed his quality, in which respect it is only necessary to cite that he made even scores with Pathes, Burn and Boden, beat Bird two games out of three, and of five games with Blackburne he won two, losing the others. curious incident occurred in the last game with Blackburue in fairly even position Hoffer carefully left his Queen en prise and did not win.

In September, 1879, in conjunction with the late Mr. Zukertort, Mr. Hoffer started The Chess Monthly, and of which he has been the sole editor for the past seven years. Since 1882 he has been the editor of the chess column in The Field, and within the last few years he has undertaken similar work for The Standard.

At every important international tournament he has been present, since and including the one at Paris in 1867. For the past thirty years he has been on intimate terms with every chess celebrity, and there is scarcely one who has not been beholden to him either for kindly interest, good advice, or material assistance. It was Leopold Hoffer who established the British Chess Association, and through his instrumentality no less than seven of the most important Tournaments have been organised. So far for his public record.