Thomas Wilson Barnes (1825–1874) was an English chess master, one of the leading British masters at the time of Paul Morphy's visit to the UK in 1858.
Barnes had the happy fortune of having the best record against Morphy during the latter's brief visit. A variation of the Ruy Lopez called the "Barnes Defence" was named after him: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6?! (this is also sometimes known as the Smyslov Defence). A much more dubious variation named for him is Barnes Defence, 1.e4 f6 which he played against Andersson and Morphy, beating the latter. Barnes Opening, 1. f3, also bears his name.
Famous quotes containing the words wilson and/or barnes:
“Most men are individuals no longer so far as their business, its activities, or its moralities are concerned. They are not units but fractions.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“Dreams have only the pigmentation of fact.”
—Djuna Barnes (1892–1982)