Mackenzie George Henry (24.03.1837 – 14.04.1891)

Scottish Master and professional soldier in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, serving in Ireland.

In 1863 he went to America, enlisted in the Northern side in the Civil War, and achieved the rank of Captain in charge of a black regiment. He rejoined the army in 1864 to fight with distinction in three battles, after which he was arrested (for his earlier desertion) and imprisoned. After his release in May 1865, he settled in New York and devoted most of his time to chess.

Captain Mackenzie succeeded Paul Morphy as the dominant force in American chess until Steinitz arrived in New York in 1882. The Captain’s greatest achievement was outright first at the Frankfurt Tournament in 1887. The following year he ventured back to Scotland for his single Championship victory in Glasgow. He died in 1891.