# Theophilus Thompson

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{{short description|American chess player}}
{{for|the British physician|Theophilus Thompson (physician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
thumb|Profile of Thompson found in his ''Chess Problems'' book

'''Theophilus Augustus Thompson''' (April 21, 1855 - Oct 12, 1881) is the earliest documented [African-American](/source/African-American) [chess](/source/chess) expert recognized in the United States.<ref name = KingsofDifferentGame>{{cite news | title = Kings of a Different Game | page = C01 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/10/AR2007031001383.html | work = [Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post) | first = Avis | last = Thomas-Lester | date = 2007-03-11 | accessdate = 2007-03-14 }}</ref> In addition to competing in tournaments, he wrote a book ''Chess Problems: Either to Play and Mate'' published in 1873.

==Early life==
Thompson was born into slavery in [Frederick, Maryland](/source/Frederick%2C_Maryland),<ref name = Halls>{{cite news | title = Not-so-famous halls of fame honor men and women who were the best in diverse fields | work = Washington Times | date = 1996-01-25 | page = M4 | first = Denise | last = Barnes }}</ref><ref name = CagedBird>{{cite web | url = http://www.thechessdrum.net/historicmoments/HM_Thompson/index.html | title = The Caged Bird: The Story of T.A. Thompson | first = Neil R. | last = Brennen | work = The Chess Drum | year = 2006 | accessdate = 2007-03-14 }}</ref><ref name = MasterEmeritus>{{cite web | url = http://www.thechessdrum.net/drummajors/T_Thompson.html | title = Theophilus Thompson: Master Emeritus | work = The Chess Drum | accessdate = 2007-03-14 }}</ref> as were his parents.<ref name = CagedBird/> After emancipation, in 1868, he worked as a house servant in [Carroll County, Maryland](/source/Carroll_County%2C_Maryland),<ref name = CagedBird/> but returned to Frederick in 1870.<ref name=Problems3>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-GFAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3 |last=Thompson|first=Theophilus|authorlink=Theophilus Thompson|title=Chess Problems|publisher=J.J. Brownson|year=1873|page=3}}</ref>

==Career==
In April 1872, Thompson witnessed the game for the first time, in a match between John K. Hanshew and another man.<ref name=Problems3/> Hanshew, who was the publisher of ''The Maryland Chess Review'', gave Thompson a [chessboard](/source/chessboard) and some [chess problem](/source/chess_problem)s to solve. Thompson showed an immediate ability to learn the game and master its rules.<ref name = MasterEmeritus/><ref name = KingsofDifferentGame/>
Thompson's fame grew and he competed in a number of [tournaments](/source/Chess_tournament).<ref>{{cite web | title = The Rising of the Black Star | url = http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/news_7_285.php | first = Daaim | last = Shabazz | accessdate = 2007-03-14 | publisher = [United States Chess Federation](/source/United_States_Chess_Federation)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914074504/http://beta.uschess.org/frontend/news_7_285.php|archive-date=14 September 2007}}</ref>

He gained lasting fame for his book of [endgame positions](/source/chess_problem): ''Chess Problems: Either to Play and Mate'' (1873).<ref name = MasterEmeritus/> It was published by Orestes Brownson Jr., the editor of the ''Dubuque Chess Journal'', for whom Thompson also worked as a servant.<ref name = CagedBird/>

Thompson faded into obscurity soon after gaining prominence with his book,<ref name = Halls/> and there is some uncertainty about the remainder of his life. The ''Dubuque Chess Journal'' closed in 1875 and Brownson Jr. died soon after, leaving Thompson without a job. In 1879, his mentor John K. Hanshew died of TB. Thompson infected himself with tuberculosis and suffered some years. When Hanshew had died, his health was so bad that he couldn't play competitive chess any longer. At Oct 12, 1881 Theophilus Thompson died of tuberculosis in his home town Frederick. The death notice was published in the local newspaper, the "Frederick Examiner". (Reference: The Chess Drum, notice from April 2020)

The [U.S. Chess Center](/source/US_Chess_Center) in [Washington D.C.](/source/Washington_D.C.) hosts the Theophilus Thompson Chess Club in his honor on Saturday afternoons.<ref name = Halls/><ref>{{cite news | title = Making the Move From Pawn to King | page = N51 | first = Alexander S. | last = White | work = Washington Post | date = 1995-07-28 }}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=-GFAAAAAYAAJ ''Chess Problems'' by Theophilus A. Thompson at Google Books]
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=81090 The games of Thompson at ChessGames.com]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Theophilus}}
Category:1855 births
Category:1881 deaths
Category:African-American chess players
Category:19th-century American chess players
Category:African-American sportsmen
Category:19th-century American sportsmen
Category:American chess writers
Category:American male non-fiction writers
Category:19th-century American slaves
Category:Sportspeople from Carroll County, Maryland
Category:Sportspeople from Frederick, Maryland
Category:19th-century African-American writers
Category:19th-century American male writers
Category:19th-century American non-fiction writers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Theophilus Thompson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_Thompson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_Thompson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.