Paul Morphy was a man who had all the ingredients for success. His family was wealthy, he was hardworking, brilliant, and he was loved by all he met. However, he experienced sadness and failure throughout his entire life. The young Morphy is bound for greatness if the legacy of his predecessor generation’s success is any indication.
Paul Charles Morphy was a child of Alonzo Morphy. His mother was Louise Carpentier. They were both prominent New Orleans families. Morphy was the son of Alonzo Morphy, a lawyer and Louisiana state legislator. His father held many high-paying, prestigious jobs throughout Morphy’s life. He was a Louisiana legislator, lawyer, attorney general, Supreme Court justice, and even an attorney. These circumstances gave Paul all the tools he needed to flourish and ensured he received the highest education to help him reach his full potential. Most people would be happy with what they have, but Paul was not. He was a hard worker and excelled in his schooling. He also learned to play chess at the tender age of ten. He was admitted to Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama in 1850. He graduated in 1854. However, he stayed another year to get as much knowledge as possible. He received an A.M. with highest honors the next year. For law school, he continued his college studies. Paul received his L.L.M. degree. On April 4, 1857, Paul graduated and received a L.L.M. The degree was awarded to him on April 4, 1857.
Paul Morphy has achieved great academic success. He was the first boy to be recognized for his chess talent and became an extraordinary chess player. Ernest Morphy, his uncle, said that no one taught Morphy how chess was played. Instead, he learned it from his parents and by watching other players. Ernest’s father was playing with him one night and he showed this feat. Morphy shocked them when Ernest lost the game and declared that Ernest should have won. He set up the position again, and they watched as he played through it.
General Winfield Scott visited New Orleans in 1910 when Morphy turned ten. Scott was a great player and sent his helpers to find a worthy opponent. Scott initially reacted negatively to the idea of Morphy being brought to him by Scott. Scott, however, was relieved to see Paul win both games. He won one in six laughable moves.
Morphy was twelve and played three games against Johann Lowenthal. Lowenthal realized by the 12th game that he was playing with an incredibly gifted boy. Lowenthal lost every game he played with Morphy. Morphy was named New Orleans’ best chessplayer the year after.
The young man, who had finished all his academic studies, was still not legally allowed to practice law. His uncle encouraged him to fight the best American players at the 1857 U.S. A gathering of chess players. He defeated all strong opponents, including the German Master Louis Paulsen. He was loved by all. He was loved by all.
Morphy defeated Howard Staunton in 1858. Even though he was severely ill from influenza, he won a match against Adolf Anderssen of Germany. Paul also presented multiple simultaneous blindfolded chess exhibitions in France and Britain. Morphy never was able to play against Howard Staunton of England, who was then the best player of all time. It was however not without effort. Staunton was aware that he would lose because he was far past his prime so he avoided Morphy for most of the year. Morphy was, for a while, considered the best player in the entire world and is still unofficially the World Chess Champion (Staunton, Morphy). Infrequently, Morphy played matches in which his opponent won knight and rook chances after his return to Europe. He was rarely successful with these matches. Morphy retired officially from chess 1863.
He returned to America at twenty-one to host banquets and parades in his honour. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was the Boston president, and John Van Buren was the son of the President. Both were present at one Boston banquet. Morphy was even toast at another. Morphy, who made a surprising return to chess, decided to quit the game and concentrate on his legal career. This part of his story didn’t work out. He once had a girl reject him for marrying him, claiming that he was “merely chess player.” This led to the Civil War of 1861. Morphy was against succession and spent the majority of the war travelling to Paris and Havana, Cuba. Morphy retired from law after the war. His law career did not end well.
Morphy began to feel depressed and was soon able to afford to live in a comfortable home. Paul claimed that people wanted to take him. He said that people tried to poison Paul and that others wanted him to burn his clothes. He could sometimes be seen walking through the French Quarter talking with invisible people. During this time, he only ate food that his sister or mother had prepared. Morphy was also a reclusive person who had little contact with other people except his family and few friends. Although Paul Morphy may sound crazy, Steinitz visited him in 1883 and said that Morphy was a very interesting person to talk to. Many believe that he may not have been as crazy after all.
Paul Charles Morphy, forty-seven year old, was found drowned in his tub one year later. After a long, hot New Orleans summer afternoon, Morphy suffered from a stroke. David Lawson, who wrote the book that is the complete biography of Paul Morphy, would later call him “The Pride and Sorrow of Chess”.
