About Kenneth Clayton
Lived 1938 – 2017 (aged 78–79). Kenneth Clayton was an American chess player.
Kenneth Roger Clayton (July 26, 1938 – December 26, 2017) was an American chess master. He won US Amateur Chess Championship in 1963. He attended Harvard University. His picture was on the cover of the June 1963 issue of Chess Life magazine.
Clayton, along with Walter Harris and Frank Street Jr., have been regarded as pioneers of African-Americans in chess in the 1960s.
Clayton held the FIDE title of Candidate Master and the USCF title of National Master. He died of Alzheimer’s on December 26, 2017.
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 Kenneth Clayton's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Kenneth Clayton's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Kenneth Clayton?
American chess player
When was Kenneth Clayton born?
Kenneth Clayton was born on 26 July 1938.
When did Kenneth Clayton die?
Kenneth Clayton died in 2017.
What was Kenneth Clayton's occupation?
Kenneth Clayton was a chess player.
What nationality was Kenneth Clayton?
Kenneth Clayton was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kenneth Clayton. https://biography.guide/kenneth-clayton/
MLA: "Kenneth Clayton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kenneth-clayton/.
Chicago: "Kenneth Clayton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kenneth-clayton/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:04 UTC