Joseph Henry Blackburne - Biography

Biography

Joseph Henry Blackburne was born in Manchester in December 1841. His father was a temperance reformer who travelled all over Britain and Ireland, taking his son with him. Ironically Joseph Blackburne became famous for his heavy drinking of whisky while playing chess.

He learned how to play draughts as a child but it was not until he heard about Paul Morphy's exploits around Europe that he switched to playing chess, at the age of 18-19:

I learnt the game in, say, 1859 —Blackburne

Blackburne joined the Manchester Chess Club around 1860. In July 1861 he lost 5-0 in a match with Manchester's strongest player, Edward Pindar (and champion of the Provinces), but 3 months later Blackburne defeated Pindar (five wins, two draws, one loss). Next year he became champion of the city club, ahead of Pindar and Bernhard Horwitz (who taught him endgame theory).

Blackburne's introduction to blindfold chess was a little later: in November 1861 Louis Paulsen give a simultaneous blindfold exhibition in Manchester, beating Blackburne among others; Blackburne was soon playing chess blindfolded with three players simultaneously.

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