Aug-28-03
 | | chessgames.com: Is this the same Cunningham that the Cunningham Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7) was named after? Does anybody have a full name? |
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| Aug-28-03 | | refutor: here's an article http://www.vistula.risp.pl/english/... i believe they list his name as "Alexander Cunningham" |
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Aug-28-03
| | chessgames.com: Thanks refutor, I think the conclusion is that the gambit is much older than the 1850's; it was discussed by Philidor et al. <The Cunningham Gambit is first mentioned as the "Three Pawns' Gambit" by Capt. Bertin, whose little work was published in 1735. It has borne its present name since Stamma (1737, 1745) and Philidor (1749) who both refer to "its supposed inventor". ... There can be little question to which of the two Cunninghams this spirited opening is to be attributed. ... With Von der Lasa in the "Schachzeitung" and the "Handbuch" (ed. 6, p. 403), we regard it as certain that the credit of the invention belongs to the critic, Alexander Cunningham "of Block".> So that still leaves the question, who is this fellow? |
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| Jul-14-04 | | aw1988: My guess is some coffeehouse player of that time. |
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| Jul-15-04 | | Lawrence: There were 2 Alexander Cunninghams, they were contemporary, and they predated Philidor. Nothing to do with this Cunningham, the one who played against Staunton and Morphy. <chessgames's> quotation is part of http://www.astercity.net/~vistula/c... for anyone interested in finding out more about the inventor of the Cunningham Gambit. |
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| Jun-08-05 | | arifattar: Whoever he was, certainly didn't believe in draws. |
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| Dec-14-08 | | Karpova: <Lawrence: There were 2 Alexander Cunninghams, they were contemporary, and they predated Philidor. Nothing to do with this Cunningham, the one who played against Staunton and Morphy.> Both Cunninghams were from Scotland, the first one lived from 1654 to 1737 and the second one from about 1655 to December 1730 (he died in 's-Gravenhage, the Netherlands). This Cunningham might be Captain Cunningham (died 1866.12.16) or James G Cunningham (1838 to 1905) for example. <Chessgames.com>, are you sure that this player's forename was Alexander? http://db.mychess.com/ also has those games (even more) without giving a forename (except one game was played by a "J Cunningham"). |
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Mar-23-14
 | | Domdaniel: My niece, Isabelle Cunningham, is a keen chess player. But I don't think she invented the gambit. |
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| Nov-17-21 | | mulde: My very compliments on your niece. Well, to investigate more about Mr. Al Cunningham, we easily can have a look in Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexa...
"Alexander Cunningham of Block (1655–1730) was a Scottish jurist, and chess player. (...)" |
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Nov-17-21
 | | Tabanus: "Captain J. Cunningham" in the newspapers. Harding has Capt. James Cunningham? I don't know where he has that from. |
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Jul-23-24
 | | MissScarlett: The <Morning Chronicle> of April 22nd 1859, p.8, lists Morphy's opponents in the St. George's blindfold simul including <Captain Cunningham (Royal London Militia)>. Incidentally, it also has <J. Thrupp> - see John Thrupp (kibitz #1). The <London Gazette> records three commissions/promotions of <James Cunningham> for the Royal London Militia regiment: Ensign (LG, 11.12.1855, p.4676); Ensign to Lieutenant (LG, 31.03.1857, p.1182); Lieutenant to Captain (LG, 17.04.1860, p.1479). It appears then the <Morning Chronicle> was mistaken/misinformed about Cunningham's rank at the time of the Morphy simul. <Karpova>'s suggestion above that <This Cunningham might be Captain Cunningham (died 1866.12.16)> turns out to be (almost) correct. The <Hereford Journal> of December 1st 1866, p.5: <CUNNINGHAM. - November 16th, suddenly, of disease of the heart, James Cunningham, Captain R.L.M., formerly of Clifton; most deeply regretted.> His burial record for Brompton Cemetery, on November 21st, notes his age as 53, his army rank, and that he died in Haxell's hotel in the Strand. |
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Jul-23-24
| | MissScarlett: If he joined up looking to blow some Russian heads off, he was frustrated: <The Royal London Militia was embodied for full-time duty from 20 February 1855 during the Crimean War. In 1856 the regiment was at the new North Camp at Aldershot, where the huts had only just been finished and the camp was a sea of mud. At Aldershot the regiment was in the 6th London Brigade for training, alongside the 2nd Royal Surrey, 1st Somerset and Cavan militia regiments. Peace having been signed, the militia dispersed from camp and the Royal Londons were disembodied on 12 June 1856.> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal... Another death notice notes that his father was also <James Cunningham>, of Richmond Park, Clifton. |
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Jul-23-24
| | MissScarlett: This looks to be the father:
<Bristol merchant, partner in Cunningham and Robley. NB there are two separate James Cunninghams active in the slave compensation records and associated with Clifton. One, the partner in Cunningham and Robley active in claims in Tobago and St Vincent, is this one.> https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/vi... |
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Oct-01-24
| | MissScarlett: Chess Player's Magazine, vol.ii (N.S.), December 1866: <We regret to state that Captain James Cunningham, for many years known as an enthusiastic and also skilful amateur of our game, died suddenly at the Westminster Chess Club. In his early days the Captain obtained some reputation as the opponent of the late Mr. Williams.> There's the Bristol connection. |
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Kibitzing
