The death is announced of Louis Paulsen, who, next to Anderssen, has been regarded the foremost of the great chess players of the last generation, whose names became most familiar the occasion of the first World's Tournament in 1851, and that of the British Chess Association in 1862. Of the list of recognised masters of that time, numbered at 36, there are but six dating back 1846, and another to 1849. Reckoning the five great masters that have sprung up since 1862, we have not quite a third of the leading class of representatives which we could boast 30 years ago.

Paulsen was most distinguished player, but the slowest of all the masters ; his amiability and modesty were his marked characteristics, and it is marvel that he was universal favourite. He won first prizes Bristol in 1861, and in one of the early German tournaments, that at Leipsic, about 15 years later, in the American tournament 1857 he came out second, Morphy alone beating him in the London tournament 1862 Anderssen, the 1851 winner, was again first, Paulsen being next.

Paulsen was the first who played blindfold chess on its present scale, a feat frequently and successfully accomplished in more recent years by Blackburn and Zukertort; two games played Philidor at a time intervals from 1783 - 1795 being considered too remarkable ever to be believed in future ages. During 1855-56-57 Paulsen,in the West of America, played ten games once on at least three occasions; and at Simpson's, London, in 1861, met the strongest team ever encountered by a player without sight of board or men.

For us his death is a great loss. His bookkeeping was so careful and exact that mistakes were totally excluded. With such energy he kept himself up that only during his last day he was confined to his bed."><<>>>

From <Intl Chess Magazine v7 July, 1891> p207:

https://books.google.com/books?id=j...

It's from <NY Daily Tribune> 1857-11-09 p3, a 25 move Sicilian won by Paulsen as Black, who opened 1.e4 (yes, you read that right; remember, it's 1857).

<[This game waa played by Mr. Paulsen, simultaneously with two others; his antagonists being Dr. Raphael, Mr. Thos. Frere of Brooklyn, and Mr. W. J. A. Faller of New-York ]

[...]

The latter game had lasted from 7:30 p m, 11 o'clock, when Dr. Raphael resigned any further continuance of the struggle. The question was put to Mr. Paulsen whether he would consider the contest terminated, or allow some other gentlemen to go on with it, and he chose the latter; namely, requesting that one of the strongest players present would take the Doctor's seat. In accordance with the wish of all in the room, Frederick Perrin, esq., Secretary of the New-York Chess Club, came forward, and after a quarter of an hour's analysis of the situation, resigned the contest, stating that although the struggle might be prolonged a short time, yet defeat must eventually ensue; an opinion concurred in by the other members of the Club>

<NY Daily Tribune> Oct 11, 1860 p7:

<When they first met at the tournament in 1857, Paulson displayed a power of analysis and skill which was so much the more surprizing that he poseeessd scarcely any book knowledge, had never encountered a single firtt-class player, and was literally obliged to invent nearly all the moves and defenses which his more learned opponents had gathered from Chess treaties. Hence his slow play and close game.>

Paulsen's famous for driving Morphy up the wall with his slow play during their match in 1857. The article goes on to say:

<And yet he not only took the second prize, but made a bolder stand, perbaps than any of the celebrities who played with Morphy in Europe. Since, Paulsen has devoted much time to books, and may be said to be now both skillful and erudite; he plays boldly, rapidly and openly.>

<
Pierce Pudgent of the N. Y. Daily
News, thus touches a scene in the "Pleasures
of Memory."

http://www.encyclopediadubuque.org/...