MOR'PHY, PAu, CHARLES (1837-8-1). An American chess player, born in New Orleans, La. He was remarkably precocious, especially as a chess player, and before he was thirteen had de feated many well-known amateurs. He studied law for several years at the College of South Carolina, playing chess only occasionally. At the first American Chess Congress, which as sembled in New York in 1857, Morphy defeated with ease the best. players that could be brought to meet him. Be visited Europe in 1858. and in England beat. Li;wenthal, Boden, and Bird, and performed the most astonishing feats in simul taneous games without the board. In Paris lie won five out of eight games with Harrwitz, and continued his exhibitions of blindfold playing. .After his return to the United States, in 1859, he won seven out of eleven games with the visiting German expert Anderssen. He was admitted to
the bar, and began the practice of law in New tn-leans. The strain occasioned by his blindfold contests, however, had been too great for his mental faculties, and, though he abandoned chess altogether, be was soon forced to relinquish all mental occupation. and died in retirement. Dur ing the comparatively short period of his activity Murphy displayed a skill that was inexplicable. Ile was at no time a close student of chess and he played without preparation and with little hesitation; but an analysis of his games reveals combinations remarkable for finesse. depth, ele gance. and soundness. These qualities. combined with a wonderful memory, made hint perhaps the most remarkable chess player in modern times. Consult L6wenthal, Morphys Comes of Chess (London, 1860).