Hugh Alexander Kennedy

Hugh Alexander Kennedy (22 August 1809 – 22 October 1878) was an English chess master He was a British army captain and leading London chess player. He established the first chess club in Brighton in 1842. In 1844, he lost a match to Howard Staunton (3–8). In 1845, he teamed up with Staunton in Portsmouth in two telegraph games (lost and drew) against a team of Henry Thomas Buckle, George Walker, William Davies Evans, Perigal, and Tuckett in London. He lost a match to Elijah Williams (+2−4=0) in 1846 and lost a match to Edward Löwe (+6−7=1) in 1849, both in London.

Kennedy played in the great international London 1851 chess tournament and finished in sixth place of the sixteen competitors. He knocked out Carl Mayet in round 1 with two wins. In round 2, he lost to Marmaduke Wyvill (+3−4=1). In round 3, he defeated James Mucklow with four wins. Finally, he lost to József Szén (+0−4=1).

In 1862, Kennedy lost perhaps the first international telegraphic game, against Serafino Dubois.

Kennedy died in Reading, England, in 1878.

"Napoleon" game In the story "Some Reminiscences of the Life of Augustus Fitzsnob, Esq." (inspired by Thackeray's The Book of Snobs), Kennedy gave the score of a chess game said to be played by Napoleon and Count Bertrand.

This is the score given by Kennedy in the two-column notation that was common at the time, and in modern algebraic notation.

Kennedy writes of Black's thirteenth move: "This seems a courtier-like move on the part of Count Bertrand. He ought now have taken P at K fifth with Q, having the exchange and two Pawns in return for a formidable attack."

Writings