Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Theophilus Thompson

Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Most played openings

C33		King's Gambit Accepted (2 games)
C53		Giuoco Piano (2 games)

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Theophilus Thompson
Search Google for Theophilus Thompson

THEOPHILUS THOMPSON (born Apr-21-1855, died Oct-08-1881, 26 years old) United States of America [what is this?] Theophilus Augustus Thompson is considered the first recognized African-American chess player in the United States. Thompson was famous not only for his tournament play, but also as a problem composer. <T. A. Thompson (Colored) was born in Frederick City, Maryland, on the 21st. day of April, 1855. At 13 years of age he left his native city and went to live with a family in Carroll County, in the capacity of house servant. In 1870, he returned to Frederick where he has been ever since. He saw a chess board and men used for the first time in April 1872, when he witnessed a contest between Mr. S. of Ohio, and Mr. H. of Frederick City; although he could not understand the game and dared not ask questions for fear of annoying the players, he watched every move with the closest attention. The partie finished he went home fully determined to learn the game. Mr. H. having heard of this ardent desire loaned him a chess board and a set of chess men, gave him some instructions, and left him a few two-move problems to solve. Thus thanks to the kind assistance of John K. Hanshew our hero became possessed of the open sesame to Caissa’s gardens of ever increasing intellectual delights. Hearing last summer of the Dubuque Chess Journal, he soon become a subscriber a student and a contributor thereto, accumulating the following rich store of Chess Compositions that are offered for perusal to the general chess reader, with great pleasure and much confidence by the proprietors of the Dubuque Chess Journal. Dubuque, June 1st. 1873.> Source: Thompson’s Chess Problems, Dubuque, Iowa, 1873, pp3-4 (n. pag.) <Death of a Noted Chess Player.—We were pained to learn of the death of Theopilus [sic] A. Thompson, colored, who died at his residence, on Ice street, this city, on Saturday morning last, after several years illness, of consumption, aged 25 years. Mr. Thompson was a young man of considerable prominence among the chess players of this country and Europe. During the Centennial at Philadelphia, he was brought in contact with most of the champion chess players, and in games at the Philadelphia club houses showed his ability as a player. For several years he tought [sic] school in this city. He was a good mathematician, and a young man highly respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His funeral took place from his late residence on Monday afternoon, attended by the order of Nazarites, and Asbury Sunday School of which the deceased was a member. His remains were taken to All Saint’s P. E. Church were the funeral discourse were delivered by Rev. Dr. Stevenson, of New Market. The interment took place at the Institution burying ground, East Fifth street.> Source: Frederick Examiner, 1881.10.12(1) (1) The Mystery of Theophilus Thompson Solved!!, https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2... Additional Material: Thompson’s Chess Problems, http://books.google.com/books?id=-G... Last updated: 2020-05-19 19:52:32

Try our new games table.

page 1 of 1; 9 games    Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. T Thompson vs C H Blood 1-0 24 1874 corr C45 Scotch Game 2. C H Blood vs T Thompson 0-1 25 1874 corr C51 Evans Gambit 3. T Thompson vs F W Martindale   1-0 20 1874 corr C77 Ruy Lopez 4. T Thompson vs F W Martindale   0-1 24 1874 corr C53 Giuoco Piano 5. T Thompson vs C H Blood   1-0 22 1874 corr C33 King's Gambit Accepted 6. T Thompson vs C H Blood   0-1 34 1874 corr C53 Giuoco Piano 7. T Thompson vs R Willing 0-1 16 1875 Maryland Chess Review Postal Card Tournament C58 Two Knights 8. T Thompson vs L A Bertolette 1-0 20 1875 Maryland Chess Review Postal Card Tournament C52 Evans Gambit 9. W Shinkman vs T Thompson 1-0 15 1875 Maryland Chess Review Postal Card Tournament C33 King's Gambit Accepted

REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Thompson wins | Thompson loses

< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing> Apr-25-05    WorldChampeen: Born April 21, 1855 in Frederick, Maryland, Theophilus Thompson is identified in various sources as being the first Black chess player of note. One may call him the first Black master except that such a titles associated with rating didn't appear until 1950. One could imagine the challenges that Mr. Thompson faced in such an era since he lived during the American Civil War, and in an area that was reputed to be a KKK stronghold. As a domestic servant, he managed to learn chess from John K. Hanshew, the publisher of The Maryland Chess Review in 1872. Mr. loaned the 17-year old a chessboard and several chess problems to solve. Not only did he solve those ones assigned, but began composing his own which he later contributed to The Dubuque Chess Journal. - biography from www.thechessdrum.net under the section of Drum Majors and there is additional reading material there as well as the above game. Apr-21-09    myschkin: . . . Foto: http://chessbase.de/2009/chessdrum/... Book (1873, Preface): "Chess Problems: Either to Play and Mate, Or Compel Self-mate in Four Moves": http://blog.chess.com/batgirl/ameri... ... Apr-25-05 <WorldChampeen> Reference: http://www.thechessdrum.net/drummaj... http://www.thechessdrum.net/histori... Jan-18-10    blackburne: Theophilus Thompson http://www.ajedrezdeataque.com/04%2... -- Jan-18-10    OhioChessFan: Wow. Wouldn't you love to have a biography about his life? Jan-18-10    OhioChessFan: Here's a problem from Thompson. Hardly up to modern standards, but intereseting anyway: click for larger view White to play and mate in 2 Jan-18-10    Annie K.: <blackburne: Theophilus Thompson http://www.ajedrezdeataque.com/04%2... > Here's a link to a Google translation to English of the same page: http://translate.google.com/transla... May-22-10    Egghead: What's the solution to the problem? May-22-10    Phony Benoni: <Egghead> Looks like 1.Ne4, threatening 2.Qa8#. 1...Kxe4 2.Bc6#, or 1...d3 2.Qxd3#. May-22-10    Egghead: Thanks! Aug-11-11    Nightsurfer: THE CHESSDRUM Dr. Daaim Shabazz has put forward some interesting comments on the important role that Theophilus Thompson has played with regard to the emancipation of Afro-American chess players in the United States - on the occasion of a (German-language) interview, please compare http://www.chessbase.de/nachrichten... . Jan-21-13    TheTamale: Too bad more of his games didn't survive. At least he won the one we have. Jan-21-13    perfidious: <TheTamale> Pity Thompson did not survive as well. On an unrelated subject, if tamales are your bag, check out this place if you ever make it down to the Mississippi Delta: http://www.tamaletrail.com/OH_joes.... Some good stuff! Jan-21-13    chessgames.com: Thanks to Neil Brennen's article at the Chess Drum (http://www.thechessdrum.net/histori...) we were able to gather four more of Thompson's games. W Shinkman vs T Thompson, 1875 is particularly curious, first in that we have a new rare game by the famous "Wizard of Grand Rapids" William Shinkman, but moreover Thompson had a very comfortable position at the point where he reportedly resigned. Perhaps the game score is not transcribed faithfully, or maybe there were additional moves. Jan-22-13    IndigoViolet: If Obama had a son... Jan-23-13    Nightsurfer: Thank you so much, dear people of ChessGames.com, that you have paid respect to <Theophilus Thompson> by making him <The Player of The Day January 21st, 2013> - on that very day that is <Martin Luther King Day 2013> ( ... and, BTW, just one day after <President Obama> has been sworn in for his 2nd term as President of the USA on January 20th, 2013 ...). That tribute to <Theophilus Thompson> has been a great gesture! Jan-23-13    MountainMatt: As a Christian, I can't help but smile at his first name. It is the name (or perhaps honorary title) of the addressee of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, and it literally means "friend of God" or "lover of God". :) Jan-23-13    TheTamale: <perfidious>: Maybe on a road trip sometime. Thanks for the tip! Jan-25-13    Nightsurfer: With regard to the date of <Theophilus Thompson> leaving this world: the author <Neil Brennen> has pointed out to the fact that <Theophilus Thompson> might have lived until 1880 at least - based on the US Census 1880 that shows <Theophilus Thompson> being employed as an oysterman in Maryland. Maybe <Theophilus Thompson> has even lived until 1920+ - based on the US Census 1920 that shows <Theophilus Thompson> being still alive at age 64, with a wife and a child, please compare http://www.thechessdrum.net/histori... ! Aug-09-13    Gallicrow: I found a reference to a Theophilius Thompson, born ~1849 in Maryland and living in Anne Arundel, Maryland in 1935! This could well be the right person as the 1880 census has Theophilius Thompson living in Anne Arundel (his occupation then being an "oysterman"). Aug-09-13    DoctorD: <Gallicrow> - Theophilus or Theophilius? For others interested, there are some articles I have written on his problems at the Chess Drum site. Unfortunately illness and other pesky issues have prevented me from making a full analysis of his problems. Some, especially, his selfmates, are quite good. Sep-24-13    jnpope: I found a casual reference to Thompson in 1887 which seems to indicate he was still alive and living in Frederick City, Maryland: http://www.chessarch.com/excavation... Mar-14-14    jnpope: I found another Thompson game. I'll just leave a link for now and submit it as a new game after I enter it into my database: http://www.chessarch.com/excavation... Apr-21-16    TheFocus: Happy birthday, Theophilus Thompson. Aug-13-17    KnightVBishop: Did he ever face Morphy? May-05-19    Sally Simpson: *** A genteel mate in three from Theophilus. click for larger view White to play and mate in three (1873) 'Genteel' I like it when composers slip one of these confidence boosters into their collections which any reasonable player should be able to solve in their head. It shows they have compassion for those new to solving and a wee sense of humour. Clue: Just keep leaving Black with only one legal move. *** search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines: No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members. Nothing in violation of United States law. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members. No trolling. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers. Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times. See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator. NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific player only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors. All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC