About John Herbert White
Lived 1880 – 1920 (aged 40). John Herbert White was a writer.
John Herbert White (22 February 1880 – 18 November 1920, London, England) was co-author with Richard Clewin Griffith of the first three editions of the famous chess opening treatise Modern Chess Openings. It was first published in 1911 and is still in print. Griffith and White explained in the preface to the first edition that "the many recent master tournaments have rendered necessary an up-to-date book on the Openings" and that "the book is intended to be a guide for match and tournament players". The fifteenth edition, by American grandmaster Nick de Firmian, was published in 2008. The book is commonly referred to as MCO today.
White was the Secretary of the Hampstead Chess Club. He died in 1920 in a bicycle accident.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Herbert White's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Herbert White's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Herbert White?
British chess writer (1880–1920)
When was John Herbert White born?
John Herbert White was born on 22 February 1880 in London.
When did John Herbert White die?
John Herbert White died on 18 November 1920.
What was John Herbert White's occupation?
John Herbert White was a writer.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Herbert White
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Herbert White. https://biography.guide/john-herbert-white/
MLA: "John Herbert White." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-herbert-white/.
Chicago: "John Herbert White." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-herbert-white/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:16 UTC