Howard Staunton

Inducted 2016 1810 - 1874

England

Biography

Howard Staunton was a latecomer to chess, only starting to play seriously at the age of 26. Despite this obstacle, he developed into one of the best players of the 1840s and eventually worked to standardize rules of chess across nations. Staunton popularized his ideas in The Chess-Player’s Handbook (1847), The Chess-Player’s Companion (1849), and Chess Praxis (1860) as well as in the Illustrated London News chess column he authored from 1845 until his death. Staunton also organized the first modern international tournament (London 1851) and wrote a book about its events. The now-standard tournament chess piece design, first produced by Jaques of London and which Staunton helped to popularize, bears his name.
Image courtesy of the John G. White Chess Collection at the Cleveland Public Library

Notable Games

Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint Amant vs. Howard Staunton

0-1 Staunton - Saint Amant Paris FRA 19 Dec 1843 Round: 21 ECO: D30

Great Chess Match between Mr. Staunton and M. Horowitz (February 7, 1846) | Collection of the Wolrd Chess Hall of Fame

After photographs by Signor Aspa and Mr. Russell | Chess Celebrities at the Late Chess Meeting (July 14, 1855) | Collection of the Wolrd Chess Hall of Fame