Howard Staunton

Biography

Howard Staunton (1810–1874) was acknowledged as the strongest player in the world during the 1840s and used his prominence to organise the first international chess tournament in London in 1851. He wrote influential manuals, including The Chess Player's Handbook, which educated countless amateurs and established a unified system of play.

He also edited Shakespeare and contributed to literary journalism, while championing the design now known as the Staunton chess set; his writing bridged the worlds of chess, culture, and print, earning him respect far beyond the board. He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.