https://www.chessarch.com/excavatio...

<"We advise all discussion to stop, as Morphy stands too high to bandy words. He fights, as the knights of old, with swords. Excuse, there, not printing your quite unanswerable letters [ed. - images]">

Fischer was already a world class grandmaster in 1964. He studied all the great players of the past. We should give his opinion great credence.>

<I was very glad to hear the chess of the F.H. [Family Herald] had fallen into British hands, as that preposterous custom of engaging a foreigner to edit Chess in an English newspaper makes us ridiculous wherever the game is known... Indeed the practice if not checked would shortly have given to half-dozen refugees a complete monopoly of English periodical Chess. You have no conception of the exertions these fellows have been making to get the Chess in their hands...>

The source is David Levy's book, <Howard Staunton 1810-1874> p.122, (Nottingham 1974), but Harding states no citation or source is provided.

Harding comments: <Staunton's xenophobic attitude was not based on fact: The majority of columns were still in the hands of Englishmen. That letter was probably counter-productive because soon afterwards Tomlinson then passed the column on to Lowenthal himself, "whom he considered more qualified to write it," according to Levy. Lowenthal's series was a more typical column, including problems and games.>

That should, of course, be William Dickenson Nethersole. How did I not notice this before?

Louisa Luson Henry was also present as a witness at the wedding of Emma Cates, Frances's sister, and Francis Fladgate. in September 1826.

And now I find her as <Louisa Henry> in the 1841 census living with Elizabeth Cates (nee Goodson) in Elizabeth St, Belgravia. Her age is given as 36, whereas she was actually 44. Recall that for the 1851 census, she claimed to be 48 (actually 54).

< That said, what if George Cates was her actual father, meaning Louisa and Frances were full sisters.

Cates left a will when he died in 1828, which is available online, making provisions for his children, but it's largely indecipherable to these eyes.>

Meanwhile, John Townsend suggests that Staunton may have had a fondness for alcohol:

<‘The New York Herald suggested that during the 1843 match in Paris between St Amant and Staunton the latter’s “second” was afraid of the English champion’s partiality to drink and took steps to prevent it damaging his performance. Thanks are due to Jerry Spinrad of Nashville, Tennessee for two quotations from the Herald. He urges caution in evaluating the articles, as they come from a distant source.>

The source is David Levy's book, <Howard Staunton 1810-1874> p.122, (Nottingham 1974), but Harding states no citation or source is provided.>

The source turns out to be a piece <Autographs of Eminent Chess-Players> in the <BCM>, September 1891, p.411: https://archive.org/details/the-bri...

Staunton's handwriting is barely legible, but I can make out that he actually writes: <that preposterous custom of engaging a[n ignorant] foreigner to edit Chess in an English newspaper makes us ridiculous wherever the game is known.>

On learning that Tomlinson had already ceded the column to Lowenthal, Staunton's reply reads, I think: <I fear you have been jockeyed. Let me hear your "curious story" as soon as you can, it will perhaps tally with something [known to me(?)].>

< I suspect after what I have heard of Mr. Staunton's habits that after the fifteenth game when he had already won ten, and ought to win one more he kept not the strict diet as before, and suffered afterwards for his confidence.> Staunton - Saint-Amant (1843) (kibitz #42)

But the registration has attracted little interest since it went on sale in January 2023. However, the local authority said it remained "confident" the plate would still sell for a six-figure sum.>

<OPENING of the VICTORIA-STREET RAILWAY.

Yesterday morning Victoria-street, Westminster, presented a scene of great excitement, in consequence of the opening [of] a new line of tramway from Westminster Abbey to the Victoria Station at Pimlico. At eight o'clock the first carriage was placed upon the tramway, and continued running backwards and forwards every five minutes. It is a light and commodious vehicle, capable of containing about twenty-four persons sitting down and ten standing. It is not calculated for carrying passengers on the roof; but another has been built for outside passengers and will carry as many as 48. The tramway does not in the slightest degree interfere with the ordinary traffic, and the carriages run with all the smoothness of a railway train. The fare charged each way was 2d., and the novelty of the thing induced numbers to invest their money in two, three, or more journeys. It should be mentioned that the carriage never leaves the trams, nor does it turn round. At the end of the journey the horses are disconnected from the carriage and fastened to the other end. Mr. W. Train's omnibus is not so high as the ordinary omnibuses, and the means of ascending and descending render it a matter of perfect ease. At each end of the vehicle is a bell, by which the guard signals the driver to stop or go on, and altogether the arrangements are as practical and complete as could be wished.

After the carriage had been running for a considerable time, to the gratification of the riders and spectators, about 60 gentlemen adjourned to the Westminster Palace Hotel to partake of a real American breakfast, which was served up in a style which augurs well for the success of the hotel company. Among those present were Le Prince Pitzipios, Hon. Ralph Dutton, M.P., Mr. John Brady, M.P., Mr. Mackinnon, M.P., Captain Mackinnon, Captain Hamber, Mr. George Cruikshank, Mr. Tom Hood, Mr. Howard Staunton, Mr. Stephen Lewin, Mayor of Boston, Mr. C. Astor Bristed, Rev. J. A. Galbreath, Mr. G. Godwin, Mr. B. L. Mozley, Mr. H. Norton Shaw, Mr. G. B. Bruce, Mr, John Alger, Mr. J. Ewin Ritchie, Mr. Henry Stevens, Mr. Alfred Walker, Colonel Bathe, Captain M'Kinnon, R.N., &c.

After ample justice had been done to the breakfast, Mr. Train announced his intention to immortalise the company present by having the whole of them photographed, together with the Westminster Palace Hotel, with the carriage in the foreground. The photographic operation completed, and the company having retired from the windows and taken their seats, Mr. Train, in a very animated speech, proposed the chief toast of the morning, "Victoria, the Queen of the English Empire—the Empire of the World."

The toast was drunk enthusiastically.

Mr. Brady, M.P., then proposed the "President of the United States," which was responded to with the same cordiality.

Mr. C. Astor Bristed returned thanks, and warmly acknowledged the compliment paid to the Americans present by the manner in which the health of their President had been drunk, and said that though he had not voted for Mr. Lincoln, because he was 3000 miles away at the time, yet he cordially concurred in that election, as he felt that it would tend to coutinue and draw closer the ties of amity between the two countries (cheers).

The "Press" and several other toasts having been given and responded to the party separated, after having passed a very agreeable morning.>

Have I found the photograph?

NO!

Will I find the photograph?

YES!

Is Staunton in it?

PROBABLY NOT!

<George Francis Train, the aptly named American behind London’s first trams>

I wish you would. Do you know what Fischer actually said, or do you just know that Staunton's name appeared on a list for one reason or another? He didn't say that Staunton was one of the <strongest> players of all time, as you seem to be implying.>

Here's the list.

Using the DeeperSearch option, after 2 minutes and 16 seconds, and employing 16 sources, this is the main body of the answer:

<Historical Context and Sources

The investigation into Staunton's birth date begins with the acknowledgment that no official records of his birth or baptism have been found, as noted in multiple sources, including Wikipedia: Howard Staunton and EdoChess: Howard Staunton. This absence of primary documentation complicates precise dating, but secondary sources, particularly the work of chess historian Harold James Ruthven Murray, provide valuable insights. Murray, in his research, summarized information from various sources, concluding that Staunton was born in 1810, reputedly the natural son of Frederick Howard, the fifth Earl of Carlisle, born out of wedlock.

Specific Findings on Birth Date

Multiple sources converge on April 1810 as the likely birth month and year. For instance, Ruchess: Howard Staunton states that Murray determined Staunton was born in the first days of April 1810, based on a court claim related to an inheritance dispute. This finding is echoed in EdoChess: Howard Staunton, which also mentions April 1810, and Mark of Westminster: Howard Staunton Biography, which confirms the same year and notes his grave marker at Kensal Green Cemetery, London, lists 1810-1874, aligning with this date. The Spanish Wikipedia page, Wikipedia: Howard Staunton (Spanish), similarly notes his birth in April 1810, with the exact date uncertain due to lack of research.

However, some sources, such as Chess.com: Howard Staunton, list a specific date of April 1, 1810. This specificity is likely a placeholder, as other detailed sources do not confirm the day, and the consensus leans toward the month being April without a precise day. The use of April 1 may reflect a common practice in historical databases to assign the first of the month when the exact day is unknown, rather than indicating verified evidence.

Place of Birth and Early Life

Staunton's claimed birthplace varies across records. In the 1851, 1861, and 1871 English censuses, he listed Keswick, Cumberland, located in the Lake District, as his birthplace, as noted in Wikipedia: Howard Staunton. However, other sources, such as Mark of Westminster: Howard Staunton Biography, mention Westmoreland, England, adding to the complexity. This discrepancy highlights the challenges in verifying his early life, which was reportedly marked by neglect and limited education, with Murray noting he inherited a few thousand pounds at coming of age, which he soon squandered.

Analysis of Uncertainty

The uncertainty around Staunton's birth date is compounded by his illegitimate birth, as suggested by Murray, and the lack of formal records. This situation is not uncommon for individuals born out of wedlock in the early 19th century, particularly those from less documented backgrounds. The reliance on Murray's research, which is cited across multiple platforms, provides a strong basis for the April 1810 estimate, but the absence of primary documents means there remains room for further discovery. For example, Ruchess: Howard Staunton mentions Murray's use of a court claim, which could be a fruitful area for additional historical research, though no further details on this claim were found in the current analysis.>

Here's the Russian Chess Federation article in question: https://ruchess.ru/en/persons_of_da...

The first thing to say is that Grok has accurately reflected the alleged claim by Murray:

<The precise date of Howard Staunton’s birth is unknown, but H.J. Murray, a contemporary historian, stated that the outstanding English chess player was born in the first days of April 1810. He concluded this after uncovering a court claim that Howard filed in an inheritance dispute.>

As far as I'm aware, the only biographical sketch of Staunton that Murray ever wrote is that which appeared in the <British Chess Magazine> in 1908, across the November and December issues:

http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/Stau...

As can be seen, Murray does not state that Staunton was born in April of 1810, let alone the first days of the month, and reference to a court case related to an inheritance dispute is entirely absent.

Here I explained where I believe the date of April orignated from.

But who was the bright spark?

In the <Oxford Companion to Chess> (1e, 1984) by Whyld & Hooper, the entry for Staunton has: <He [Staunton] states he was born in Westmorland in the spring of 1810, that his father's name was William, that he acted with Edmund Kean, taking the part of Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice, that he spent some time at Oxford (but not at the university) and came to London around 1836.> https://archive.org/details/TheOxfo...

From the spring of 1810 to April is but a short leap. I will have to check the second edition.