Minor Pieces

Last time I offered you the story of Hans Cohn, who was blinded as the result of a childhood accident.

Here, going back a long time, is the story of another chess player who lost his sight in a very similar way.

We’re back in the years around 1860, more than two decades before inter-club leagues were introduced. Most large towns had chess clubs which occasionally played each other, as did some smaller settlements where an enthusiastic local resident might set one up.

Interest was maintained by visiting celebrities, the likes of Blackburne and Bird, who would give simultaneous displays to entertain the local members.

Into this environment, for a few brief years, came George Lumley (his surname often spelt ‘Lumbley’). George travelled the length and breadth of the country, visiting clubs and playing simuls against club members.

Here’s a typical report from 1860.

It’s possible, I suppose, although I have no knowledge of the subject, that what happened to Cohn, losing sight in his uninjured eye as the result of sympathetic ophthalmia, also explains why Lumley had become totally blind.

It seems that George Lumley was born in 1836, the son of John and Jane Lumley of Manchester, known at the time as Cottonopolis, and both working in the cotton industry.

There were two George Lumleys born in Manchester in that year to parents of those names. I suspect his was the baptism in Jackson Lane Congregational Church on 6 September, having been born on 18 August.

Here’s the family in 1841, showing George as the oldest of three young sons, and with 80-year-old Ann, perhaps John”s mother or grandmother, also in residence.

At some point in the following decade, probably round about 1848 George Lumley lost his sight, and the 1851 census found him in the Blind Asylum, aged 15, working as a basket maker, having been taught there by George Maddison, who may or may not have been a player himself, but certainly encouraged his chess as well as his basket making.

In 1855 Maddison submitted some problems composed by his pupil for publication in Cassell’s Illustrated Family Paper (17 March), where he was also solving successfully. (Lumley was named as a solver on 7 April, so there’s an assumption that he was also the composer. The reply was negative:

The specimens sent exhibit some talent for the construction of chess problems. They are not, however, sufficiently difficult for publication. We are much gratified that your friend, who as you state, is so seriously afflicted, can find solace in this intellectual pastime. We are somewhat curious to know by what means he has acquired a knowledge of the game.

In 1857 the British Chess Association met in Manchester. George and a friend were there, their presence creating considerable interest.

In October George and William visited Liverpool.

Looking back to the 1851 census, we find 22-year-old William Turner, a mat maker, in the Blind Asylum along with George Lumley. I’d guess this was him, but at this point Lumley was 21, and Turner about 28. Hardly about 14 years of age, but you shouldn’t always believe what you read in the papers. I haven’t yet discovered what happened to William: he had a very common name, and there were lots of William Turners of about that age in Manchester.

The following year they returned to Liverpool.

Here’s the game.

[Event “Casual game: Liverpool (Lumley & Turner v Amateur)”]
[Date “1858.03.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C50”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 h6 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. Qxd4 c5 7. Qd5 Qe7 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Qd3 Qxe4 10. Qxe4+ Nxe4 11. O-O Be7 12. Re1 O-O 13. Bxh6 Bf6 14. Bc1 Nd6 15. Nd2 b5 16. Bd5 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. c3 d6 19. Ne4 Be5 20. f4 Bf6 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 22. f5 d5 23. Bf4 Rfe8 24. Rad1 Re4 25. Rxe4 dxe4 26. Rd7 Na5 27. Re7 Nc4 28. b3 Nb6 29. Rxe4 Nd5 30. Bd2 a5 31. a3 a4 32. b4 c4 33. h4 Rd8 34. Rd4 Kf8 35. h5 Kg8 36. h6 Kh7 37. Kf2 Rd7 38. Kf3 Nb6 39. Rxd7 Nxd7 40. Bf4 Ne5+ 41. Bxe5 fxe5 42. f6 Kxh6 43. Ke4 Kg5 44. Kxe5 Kg6 45. Kd5 Kxf6 46. Kc5 Kg5 47. Kxb5 f5 48. Kxc4 Kg4 49. b5 f4 50. b6 Kg3 51. b7 1-0

In March 1859 George Lumley started visiting chess clubs in other parts of the country, making a precarious living by playing games against their members. Press reports inevitably exaggerated his chess strength.

He then travelled north to Norwich, where he engaged local expert FG Rainger (historical rating 1973 according to EdoChess) in two games, drawing one and winning the other.

The Norfolk News published both games, which demonstrate that Lumley was a more than competent player.

[Event “Casual game: Norwich”]
[Date “1859.03.17”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Rainger, Frederick George”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C50”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 h6 5. Nxd4 Ne5 6. Bb3 d6 7. f4 Bg4 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Ba4 Bd7 10. O-O Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bxa4 12. Qxa4+ c6 13. Qd4 Nf6 14. Be3 Ng4 15. e5 c5 16. Qa4+ Qd7 17. Qb3 dxe5 18. h3 exf4 19. Bxf4 Qd4+ 20. Be3 Qxe3+ 21. Qxe3+ Nxe3 22. Re1 O-O-O 23. Rxe3 Rd1+ 24. Kf2 Bd6 25. Rd3 Rxd3 26. cxd3 Be5 27. Nc3 Bd4+ 28. Kf3 Re8 29. Rd1 Re3+ 30. Kf4 g5+ 31. Kg4 Kd7 32. Rd2 Ke6 33. Nb5 f5+ 34. Kh5 Bg7 35. Nxa7 c4 36. dxc4 Re4 37. b3 Bc3 38. Rd3 Kf6 39. Rd6+ Kg7 40. Rg6+ Kf7 41. Rxh6 Bd2 42. g4 fxg4 43. Nb5 g3 44. Nd6+ Kg7 45. Nf5+ Kf7 46. Nd6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event “Casual game: Norwich”]
[Date “1859.03.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Rainger, Frederick George”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C52”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. Qb3 Qe7 7. Ba3 d6 8. O-O h6 9. d4 Bb6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Qxe5 12. Bxf7+ Kf8 13. Nd2 Qf4 14. Bh5 Ne7 15. Rad1 g6 16. Bf3 Kg7 17. c4 Kh7 18. g3 Qf7 19. e5 Nf5 20. Bd5 Be6 21. Bb2 Rhf8 22. Ne4 dxe5 23. Bxe5 Qe7 24. c5 Bxd5 25. Qxd5 c6 26. Qd7 Rf7 27. Qxe7 Rxe7 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29. Rd7 Bxc5 30. Rfd1 Rf8 31. Rxe7 Bxe7 32. Nd7+ Kg8 33. Nxf8 Kxf8 34. Rd7 Kf7 35. Rxb7 Ke6 36. Bc3 Bc5 37. Bb4 Bd4 38. Rc7 Kd5 39. g4 Nd6 40. Bxd6 Kxd6 41. Rh7 h5 42. gxh5 gxh5 43. Rxh5 c5 44. Kf1 c4 45. Ke2 c3 46. f4 Ke6 47. Ra5 c2 48. Ra6+ Kf5 49. Kd2 c1=Q+ 50. Kxc1 Kxf4 51. Ra4 Ke4 52. Rxd4+ Kxd4 53. Kc2 Kd5 54. Kc3 1-0

Later in the spring Lumley visited Worcester, and, in June and July was in Bristol, where he encountered a genuine master strength opponent in Captain Hugh Alexander Kennedy (retrospective rating 2338).

The gallant captain gave George odds: he played Black without his f-pawn and gave his opponent two moves at the start of the game. The game was published in the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette on 8 September 1859.

[Event “Casual game: Bristol”]
[Date “1859.07.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Kennedy, Hugh Alexander”]
[Result “0-1”]
[SetUp “1”]
[FEN “rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq – 0 1”]
1. d4 Nc6 2. e5 d6 3. Bd3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. Qd3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 d5 9. Nd2 e6 10. c3 Nh6 11. g4 Be7 12. Nf1 Nf7 13. Qg2 c5 14. a3 cxd4 15. cxd4 c5 16. Be3 Qb6 17. O-O-O Rb8 18. f4 c4 19. Qc2 O-O 20. g5 c3 21. bxc3 Bxa3+ 22. Kd2 Rfc8 23. Ke2 Qa5 24. Ra1 Rxc3 25. Qd2 Qc7 26. Kf3 Qc4 27. h4 Rd3 28. Qh2 Qxd4 29. Nd2 Qxe3+ 30. Kg4 Nxe5+ 31. fxe5 Rb4+ 0-1

We have two more games played in Bristol, against local chess organiser William Thomson (Thompson in some records).

This comes from The Bristol Chess Club by J Burt (1883).

[Event “Casual game: Bristol”]
[Date “1859.06.??”]
[White “Thomson, William”]
[Black “Lumley, George”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C45”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nxd4 5. Qxd4 Ne7 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. Qd5 Qf6 8. O-O d6 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. Nc3 a6 11. Ba4 Be7 12. f4 Qd4+ 13. Kh1 Qxd5 14. Nxd5 Rc8 15. Be3 b5 16. Bb3 O-O 17. c3 Kh8 18. Rad1 Be6 19. Rfe1 Rfe8 20. Bd4 Bf8 21. f5 Nxd4 22. cxd4 Bd7 23. Rc1 c6 24. Nb6 Rc7 25. Nxd7 Rxd7 26. Rxc6 Rde7 27. Bd5 Ra7 28. Rec1 Kg8 29. g4 h6 30. Rc7 Re7 31. Rc8 a5 32. Rb8 0-1

This was published in the Western Daily Press (26 June 1859).

[Event “Casual game: Bristol”]
[Date “1859.06.23”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Thomson, William”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C62”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Be7 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. h3 h6 9. a3 O-O 10. O-O Nh7 11. Ba4 Bg5 12. Bc2 f5 13. Qd3 Qf6 14. e5 dxe5 15. dxe5 Qf7 16. h4 Bxc1 17. Raxc1 Be6 18. Nd4 Bc4 19. Qd1 Bxf1 20. Bb3 Bc4 21. e6 Qf6 22. Bxc4 Qxd4 23. Qxd4 Nxd4 24. e7+ Rf7 25. Re1 Nf6 26. Nd5 Ne8 27. Nf4 g6 28. Rd1 c5 29. Ne6 b5 30. Bd5 Rc8 31. Nd8 Nd6 32. Be6 Kg7 33. Bxf7 Kf6 34. Re1 Rc7 35. e8=Q Nxe8 36. Bxe8 Re7 37. Rxe7 Kxe7 38. Bxg6 Kxd8 39. h5 a5 40. Bh7 b4 41. axb4 axb4 42. Bg8 Ke7 43. b3 Ne6 44. Kf1 c4 45. Ke2 cxb3 46. Kd2 Kf6 47. Kc1 Nd4 48. Kb2 f4 49. Bxb3 Ke5 50. f3 Nf5 51. Ba4 Nh4 52. Kb3 Nxg2 53. Kxb4 Kd4 54. Bd7 Ne1 55. Bg4 Ke3 56. Kc3 Nxf3 0-1

In September 1859 Lumley visited London. This was a time when young chess players, thanks to the exploits of Paul Morphy, were big news.

The following week, 25 September, they published the games against Medley and Schröder. Medley’s retrospective rating was 2342, and Schröder’s, in 1860, 2133.

[Event “Casual game: London”]
[Date “1859.09.07”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Medley, George Webb”]
[Result “0-1”]
[SetUp “1”]
[FEN “rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq – 0 1”]
1. d4 e6 2. Bd3 c5 3. e5 g6 4. c3 Nc6 5. Qc2 Nge7 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Bg5 d5 8. b3 Qb6 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nf5 11. Be3 Bd7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Ne2 Rac8 14. Rc1 Nb4 15. Bb1 Rxc1+ 16. Nxc1 Rc8 17. O-O Nc6 18. Ne2 Bf8 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Bh6 Qd8 21. Ng3 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Qf8 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Nh5 Ne7 25. Qf6+ Qxf6 26. Nxf6 Bb5 27. Re1 h6 28. g3 Rc3 29. Kg2 Kg7 30. Re3 Rc1 31. Ne1 Nc6 32. a4 Ba6 33. Nd3 Rd1 34. Nc5 Bf1+ 35. Kf3 Nxd4+ 36. Kf4 b6 37. Ncd7 Ne2+ 38. Kf3 Ng1+ 39. Kf4 Rd4+ 40. Re4 dxe4 41. Ne8+ Kf7 0-1

[Event “Casual game: London”]
[Date “1859.09.07”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Schröder, A.”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C56”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 Nxe4 5. dxe5 d5 6. Bb5 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nd4 Bd7 10. Be3 Bxd4 11. cxd4 f5 12. Qc1 h6 13. Nd2 Ng5 14. Nb3 Ne6 15. f4 g5 16. g3 g4 17. Na5 Qe8 18. b4 h5 19. Qd2 Rf7 20. Rac1 Rb8 21. a3 Rh7 22. h4 gxh3 23. Qh2 h4 24. Rf3 Qh5 25. Kf2 Rg7 26. Rh1 Qxf3+ 27. Kxf3 Rxg3+ 28. Qxg3+ hxg3 29. Kxg3 Kg7 30. Rxh3 Rh8 31. Rxh8 Kxh8 32. Kh4 Kh7 33. Nb7 1/2-1/2

The Chess Player’s Chronicle (1859, p284) reported:

Here’s the game.

[Event “Casual game: London”]
[Date “1859.??.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B22”]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 e5 4. Bb5 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Nc3 Be7 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. O-O Nf6 11. Bg5 a6 12. Qf3 O-O 13. Rac1 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. e5 dxe5 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Qxc6 Qe8 18. Qe4 Bg5 19. Rc2 f5 20. Qc4+ Kh8 21. Nd5 Qb5 22. Nc7 Qxc4 23. Rxc4 Ra7 24. Ne6 Rb8 25. g3 Bf6 26. Rfc1 Rg8 27. Rc8 Ra8 28. R8c7 e4 29. R1c6 Bxb2 30. Rf7 Bf6 31. Rcc7 Rae8 32. Nf4 e3 33. fxe3 Rxe3 34. Nh5 Bd4 35. Kf1 Rf3+ 36. Ke2 Rf2+ 37. Kd3 Ba1 38. h4 Rxa2 39. Rxf5 Rd8+ 40. Ke3 g6 41. Nf6 Ra3+ 42. Ke2 Bxf6 43. Rxf6 Rxg3 44. Rff7 Re8+ 45. Kf2 Rge3 1/2-1/2

Two more games were later published there (pp297-299), the first another pawn and 2 moves odds game against a master opponent, Adolf Zytogorski (2408) where he was assigned the black pieces, and the other against Charles Kenny (2323 in 1858).

[Event “Odds game: London”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “1859.09.??”]
[White “Zytogorski, Adolf”]
[Black “Lumley, George”]
[Result “1-0”]
[SetUp “1”]
[FEN “rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/8/3pp3/8/8/PPPPP1PP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq – 0 1”]
1. e3 Bd6 2. c4 e4 3. g3 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. d4 Be6 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. Bb5 Qc7 9. Nge2 Bh3 10. Bd2 Bg2 11. Rg1 Bf3 12. O-O-O a6 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Rde1 Ng4 15. Nxd5 Qb7 16. h4 O-O 17. Ndf4 Nf2 18. Kb1 Rab8 19. b3 Nd3 20. Nxd3 exd3 21. Nf4 Be4 22. Rc1 Rfc8 23. Kb2 c5 24. d5 f5 25. g4 Bxf4 26. exf4 Qxd5 27. Qc4 Qxc4 28. Rxc4 Kf7 29. gxf5 Bxf5 30. Rgc1 Kg6 31. Rxc5 Rxc5 32. Rxc5 Rc8 33. Rxc8 Bxc8 34. Kc3 Bf5 35. Be1 Kh5 36. Kd4 Kg4 37. Ke3 h6 38. b4 Be6 39. a4 Bc4 40. Ke4 Bb3 41. b5 Bxa4 42. bxa6 Bb5 43. a7 Bc6+ 44. Ke5 d2 45. Bxd2 Kxh4 46. f5 Kh5 47. Kf4 Ba8 48. Bc3 g5+ 49. Ke5 g4 50. f6 g3 51. f7 g2 52. Bd4 1-0

[Event “Casual game”]
[Date “1859.09.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Kenny, Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C44”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5 4. Bb5 fxe4 5. Bxc6 exf3 6. Bxf3 Nf6 7. d3 d5 8. Bg5 c6 9. O-O Be7 10. Re1 Qc7 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. h3 O-O 13. Nd2 Bf5 14. Qe3 Rae8 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Nb3 Qf7 17. Rad1 Bxh3 18. Bxd5 cxd5 19. Qxh3 Rxf2 20. Nd2 Rf6 21. Qe3 Qh5 22. Nf3 e4 23. dxe4 dxe4 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25. Ng5 Rd1 26. Nf3 exf3 27. Qxe8+ Qxe8 0-1

The games against Blydenstein (retrospective rating 1913 in 1860: he was actually Benjamin Willem Blijdenstein: more about him and more games here and Boyman (or possibly Bayman, retrospective rating 2013 in 1860) were published later. Boyman may have been Richard Alliston Boyman, a banker and stockbroker (1830-1874).

[Event “Casual game: London”]
[Date “1859.09.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Boyman, Richard Alliston(?)”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C36”]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. e5 Be6 5. d4 c5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Bxf4 h6 8. c3 Qb6 9. Bxc6+ Qxc6 10. O-O g5 11. Bg3 Be7 12. b3 O-O-O 13. Nbd2 f5 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Ne5 Qe8 16. Rc1 h5 17. Nd3 Qc6 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. Rxf6 Be7 20. c4 Kd7 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. Rc7+ Ke8 23. Rg6 Bf7 24. Rxe7+ Kxe7 25. Qe2+ Kf8 26. Rf6 Qxd4+ 27. Qf2 Qxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Rh6 29. Be5 Re6 30. Bc3 Kg8 31. Nf3 Rd1+ 32. Rf1 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 g4 34. Ne5 Ra6 35. Nxf7 Kxf7 36. a4 Rc6 37. Bd4 a6 38. a5 Rc2 39. Be5 Ke6 40. Bg7 Kd5 41. Bf8 Ke4 42. b4 Ke3 43. Bc5+ Kd3 44. h3 gxh3 45. gxh3 Rh2 0-1

[Event “Casual game: London”]
[Date “1859.09.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Blijdenstein, Benjamin Willem”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C64”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Bc5 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 d6 7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Qb3 Nf6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nxe4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 O-O 14. Bd3 Nf6 15. Rfe1 Be6 16. Qc2 Qd7 17. Nd2 Ne7 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 f5 20. Re2 Rae8 21. Rae1 Bf7 22. f4 Bg6 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. h4 Nc6 25. hxg5 Rxe2 26. Rxe2 Bh5 27. Rf2 Bg4 28. Qb1 Nd8 29. Bh4 Kg7 30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. Bxb5 c6 32. Be2 Bxe2 33. Rxe2 Kg6 34. Re7 d5 35. Kf2 Kh5 36. Rh7+ Kg4 37. g6 Ne6 38. g7 Nxg7 39. Rxg7+ Kxh4 40. Rxb7 Ra8 41. Rc7 Rb8 42. Rxa7 Rb2+ 43. Kf3 Rc2 44. Rh7+ Kg5 1/2-1/2

Later in the year, George visited Reading, and then Croydon, where the Croydon Chronicle (10 December) published an extensive report on two three-board simultaneous displays in Miss Squire’s schoolroom.

During these six games, Mr Lumley sat at a little table by himself, with a glass of water before him, almost motionless, and quite silent except when he declared his moves; while each of the three tables where the games were being played were surrounded by a group of studious, anxious, and critical spectators.

Later on, we have some biographical information.

He is the eldest of ten children of a poor man. His father was formerly a mechanic at Manchester, whose employment was the making of fireworks. A few years ago he lost his all by an explosion. Mr Lumley, the chess player, much to his credit, and to the relief of his father, makes this extraordinary faculty, not merely an amusement, but a source of supporting himself, instead of being (as many poor blind men are) a forlorn and depressing spectacle, and entirely dependent on alms.

Almost two decades later (4 September 1880), the following game was published in the Croydon Guardian. Bennett wasn’t named among Lumley’s opponents, and he always played the first move in his simuls. I guess it might have been an informal game played before or after one of the displays. Who knows?

[Event “Casual game: Croydon”]
[Date “1859.12.??”]
[White “Bennett, William”]
[Black “Lumley, George”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C27”]
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. f3 O-O 5. Nge2 c6 6. Ng3 d6 7. Na4 Bb6 8. Bb3 Be6 9. c3 Nbd7 10. d3 h6 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. O-O Re8 13. Kh1 Nf8 14. f4 Bxb3 15. Qxb3 d5 16. fxe5 N6h7 17. exd5 cxd5 18. d4 Ne6 19. Nf5 Nhg5 20. Nd6 Re7 21. Qxd5 Rc8 22. Bxg5 Nxg5 23. c4 Rcc7 24. Rf2 Red7 25. c5 bxc5 26. dxc5 Rc6 27. b4 Qc7 28. Rc1 b5 29. a4 bxa4 30. b5 Rb6 31. c6 Rd8 32. Ra1 Qa7 33. Qc4 Rxc6 34. bxc6 Qxf2 35. c7 1-0

The new year found him in King’s Lynn, his presence there being recorded in press articles around the country, all of which claimed, incorrectly, that he had been blind from birth.

One of the games he played there, against a Dorset problemist who was temporarily in Norfolk, was published in the Norfolk News on 21 April 1860.

[Event “Casual game: King’s Lynn”]
[Date “1860.01.05”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Atkins, Charles Tizard”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “B21”]
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e5 Ng4 5. Qxd4 d5 6. h3 Nc6 7. Bb5 Nh6 8. Bxh6 gxh6 9. e6 f6 10. Qg4 Qd6 11. Nd4 Kd8 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. O-O c5 14. Nb5 Qxe6 15. Qxe6 Bxe6 16. N1c3 a6 17. Na3 Rg8 18. Kh2 Bf7 19. Rad1 e6 20. Ne4 Be7 21. c3 Ke8 22. Ng3 Bd6 23. f4 Kd7 24. Ne2 Rg6 25. Nc2 Rag8 26. g3 f5 27. Ne1 R6g7 28. Rg1 Bh5 29. Rd2 Bxe2 30. Rxe2 Bxf4 31. Reg2 Bd6 32. Nf3 e5 33. Nh4 Ke6 34. Rf1 Rg5 35. Nf3 Rh5 36. a3 e4 37. Nd2 Rhg5 38. Rfg1 f4 39. Nf1 f3 40. Rf2 c4 41. h4 Rg4 42. Kh3 Bc5 0-1

In February and March Lumley was in Yorkshire, then travelling north to the Lake District, and on to Scotland in the summer: Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Kirkaldy. We have a few games from this period.

[Event “Casual game: Leeds”]
[Date “1860.02.27”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Millard, Henry”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C43”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Nd5 5. Qxd4 Nb4 6. Qd1 d5 7. c3 N4c6 8. Bb5 a6 9. Qa4 Bd7 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Qb3 Nd7 12. O-O Nc5 13. Qc2 Be7 14. Be3 Nd7 15. Bd4 Nf8 16. Nbd2 Ne6 17. Rae1 Bb5 18. c4 dxc4 19. Bc3 Bc6 20. Ne4 Qd3 21. Qxd3 cxd3 22. Ned2 O-O 23. Re3 Rad8 24. g3 Bc5 25. Ree1 b5 26. b4 Bb6 27. Ne4 Bd5 28. Bd2 Bd4 29. a3 1/2-1/2

Source: Leeds Mercury 1 March 1860.

[Event “Casual game: York”]
[Date “1860.03.05”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Habersak”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C58”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. d3 Bd6 7. c3 Nxc4 8. dxc4 b6 9. Nd2 Bf5 10. Ngf3 O-O 11. O-O e4 12. Nd4 Bg6 13. Re1 Bh5 14. f3 Re8 15. Qc2 exf3 16. N2xf3 Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 Nxd5 19. Nef3 Qd6+ 20. Kg1 Nf6 21. Be3 Qe7 22. Qe2 Re8 23. Nc2 c5 24. Re1 Bg6 25. Qd2 Bxc2 26. Qxc2 Ng4 27. Bf2 Qd7 28. Rxe8+ Qxe8 29. Qd1 f6 30. Qe1 Qf7 31. Qe4 h5 32. Qd5 g5 33. Bg3 Kg7 34. Qxf7+ Kxf7 35. Bb8 a6 36. Ba7 Ke6 37. Bxb6 Kd6 38. b4 cxb4 39. cxb4 Kc6 40. c5 Ne5 41. Nxe5+ fxe5 42. a4 e4 43. Bd8 g4 44. Bg5 a5 45. Bd2 e3 46. b5+ Kxc5 47. Bxe3+ Kd5 48. Bg5 Kc5 49. Kf2 1-0

[Event “Casual game: York”]
[Date “1860.03.05”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Ball”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C21”]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. Nxd4 Bxd4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. Qd1 h6 9. Bf4 d6 10. h3 Nh7 11. Qd2 Be6 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Nf6 14. Bb3 Nxe4 15. Qc1 Nd4 16. Bc4 d5 17. Bd3 Nc5 18. Be3 Qe7 19. Qd2 Nxd3+ 20. Qxd3 Qb4+ 21. Kd1 Ne6 22. b3 d4 23. Bd2 Qd6 24. Rf1 c5 25. c4 Qc6 26. Qg3 Kh8 27. f4 f5 28. Qf2 b5 29. g4 fxg4 30. hxg4 bxc4 31. Qh4 c3 32. Bc1 Qe4 33. f5 c2+ 34. Kd2 Qe3+ 35. Kxc2 Qe2+ 36. Bd2 d3+ 37. Kc3 Qe5+ 38. Kxd3 c4+ 39. bxc4 Nc5+ 40. Kc2 Qe4+ 41. Kd1 Qxc4 42. Re1 Qa4+ 43. Ke2 Rae8+ 44. Kf1 Rxe1+ 45. Rxe1 Rxf5+ 46. Kg1 Rf6 47. Qh5 Qd4+ 48. Be3 Qd6 49. Qh4 Rg6 50. Rf1 Qe6 51. Qd8+ Kh7 52. Bxc5 Qxg4+ 53. Kf2 Rf6+ 54. Ke1 Qe4+ 55. Kd2 Rxf1 0-1

Source of these two games: York Herald 10 March 1860

[Event “Casual game: Kendal”]
[Date “1860.06.05”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Brown, W.”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C57”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3 Ncb4 9. Qe4 c6 10. a3 b5 11. Bb3 Na6 12. d4 Bd6 13. dxe5 Re8 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Qxd5+ Kf5 16. Qf7+ Kxe5 17. Qf4# 1-0

Source: Lancaster Gazette 9 June 1860

In Dundee, George Lumley played a match for the best of thirteen games match against George Brunton Fraser (retrospective rating 2311), unfortunately losing seven and drawing just one.

[Event “Match game: Dundee”]
[Date “1860.07.06”]
[White “Fraser, George Brunton”]
[Black “Lumley, George”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C38”]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. O-O d6 6. c3 h6 7. d4 Qe7 8. Qb3 Nc6 9. Na3 a6 10. Bd2 Nd8 11. e5 b5 12. Bd5 c6 13. exd6 Qd7 14. Rae1+ Kf8 15. Be4 Qxd6 16. Nc2 Be6 17. Qb4 Qxb4 18. Nxb4 Ne7 19. h4 a5 20. Nxc6 Ndxc6 21. hxg5 hxg5 22. Nxg5 Bd5 23. Rxf4 Bh6 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Ne6+ Kg8 26. Rg4+ Kh7 27. Bxh6 Kxh6 28. Kf2 Nf6 29. Rh1+ Nh5 30. Nf4 1-0

Source: Dundee Courier 2 March 1863

[Event “Match game: Dundee”]
[Date “1860.08.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Fraser, George Brunton”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C64”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 Nge7 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb6 7. d5 Nb8 8. Ne5 c6 9. d6 cxb5 10. Bg5 Ba5+ 11. Nc3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qa5 13. Qb3 Nd5 14. Qxd5 Qxc3+ 15. Ke2 Qb2+ 16. Kf3 Rf8 17. Be7 Nc6 18. Nd3 Nxe7 19. Nxb2 Nxd5 20. exd5 b6 21. Rhe1+ Kd8 22. Re5 Bb7 23. Nd3 f6 24. Rh5 Rc8 25. Rc1 Rc4 26. Re1 Rh8 27. Rf5 Rd4 28. Nf4 g5 29. Nh5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Bxd5+ 0-1

Source: Dundee Courier 31 August 1863

[Event “Casual game: Dundee”]
[Date “1860.07.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Gloag, John Austin Lake”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C37”]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Nc6 5. d4 g4 6. O-O gxf3 7. Qxf3 Bh6 8. Bxf4 Qf6 9. c3 d6 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Qxf3 13. Rxf3 f6 14. Bxg8 fxe5 15. Bf7+ Ke7 16. Na3 Rf8 17. Bd5 c6 18. Be4 Rxf3 19. Bxf3 Bf5 20. Nc4 Ke6 21. Re1 Bg7 22. Rd1 Bf8 23. Kf2 Bc5+ 24. Ke1 e4 25. Bh5 Rg8 26. g3 Rg5 27. Be8 Ke7 28. b4 Bg4 29. Rd2 e3 30. Rd3 Bf5 31. Rd1 Be6 32. bxc5 Bxc4 33. Bd7 Rxc5 34. Bg4 Bxa2 35. Rd7+ Kf6 36. Rxb7 h5 37. Bf3 a5 38. Rh7 Rxc3 39. Rxh5 Bc4 40. Rh6+ Kg5 41. Rh5+ Kg6 42. Re5 Rc1+ 43. Bd1 Bb3 44. Rxe3 Rxd1+ 45. Ke2 a4 46. Rxb3 axb3 47. Kxd1 1/2-1/2

Source: Dundee Courier 9 January 1864

[Event “Casual game: Aberdeen”]
[Date “1860.08.05”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Thomson, John”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B22”]
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 e5 4. c3 Nc6 5. cxd4 Nf6 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nxe5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Qxe5 9. f4 Qc5 10. e5 Ng8 11. Qf3 d6 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. O-O-O Nh6 15. Bb5+ Bd7 16. Bxd7+ Qxd7 17. Rhf1 Ng4 18. f5 Nxh2 19. Qf4 Nxf1 20. Qxf1 Be7 21. Bc5 Rc8 22. Kb1 Rxc5 23. f6 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 gxf6 25. exd6 Bd8 26. Qe2+ Kf8 27. Qe3 Qg4 28. Qh6+ Kg8 29. Qe3 Qxg2 30. Rd1 Bb6 31. Qe8+ Kg7 32. d7 Qc6 33. Qe2 Rd8 34. Qg4+ Kh8 35. Qf5 Qe6 36. Qd3 f5 37. Qc3+ Kg8 38. Qg3+ Kh8 39. Qa3 f6 40. Ka1 h5 41. Qf3 Rxd7 42. Qxh5+ Kg8 43. Qg6+ Rg7 44. Qh5 Rg1 45. Rxg1+ Bxg1 46. Qg6+ Kf8 47. Qxg1 b6 48. Qh1 a5 49. a3 f4 50. Qh6+ Ke7 51. Qxf4 f5 52. Qc7+ Kf6 53. Qd8+ Ke5 54. Qh8+ Ke4 55. Qh1+ Kd3 56. Qf3+ Kd2 57. Qc3+ Ke2 58. Qc2+ Kf1 59. Qd3+ Qe2 1/2-1/2

Source: Aberdeen Herald 18 August 1860

He then returned to the north of England, playing simultaneous displays of up to six boards, before visiting Worcester and Stourbridge in December.

There was then a break until March 1861, when Lumley visited Cambridge, offering to play eight games simultaneously. As you’ll see from the press report, he only had five opponents.

One of his losses was published several months later.

[Event “Casual game: Cambridge”]
[Date “1861.03.25”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Walker, Edward”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C41”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Nh6 7. Nc3 c6 8. Be2 g6 9. h4 Bg7 10. h5 e3 11. Bxe3 d4 12. hxg6 dxe3 13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Rxh6 exf2+ 15. Kf1 Bxh6 16. Nf7+ Ke7 17. Nxh8 hxg6 18. Nxg6+ Kf6 19. e7 Bd7 20. Bd3 Be3 21. Rd1 Be8 22. Ne4+ Kxg6 23. Nd6+ Kg5 24. Nxe8 Na6 25. Ng7 Nc7 26. Be4 Rh8 27. Ke2 Bc5 28. Nf5 Kf6 29. Rd8 Rh1 30. Rf8+ Ke6 31. Ng3 Re1+ 32. Kd2 Kxe7 33. Rf3 Nd5 34. Bxd5 cxd5 35. c3 a5 36. a3 a4 37. Kc2 Rg1 38. Nf5+ Kd7 39. Ng3 Rxg2 40. Nf1 Rg1 41. Nd2 Re1 42. Kd3 Ke6 43. c4 dxc4+ 44. Kxc4 Be3 45. Nf1 Rxf1 46. Rxe3+ Kf5 47. Kd3 Rd1+ 0-1

Source: Norfolk News 14 September 1861

This game must have been played separately, as Foster acted as teller for the display.

[Event “Casual game: Cambridge”]
[Date “1861.03.25”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Foster, Henry Stables”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C51”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Qa4 Bxf3 11. d5 Bg4 12. dxc6 Rb8 13. Ba3 Bd4 14. cxb7+ Bd7 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Qxd4 Qf6 17. Qxa7 Ne7 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. exd5 Rhe8 20. Rfc1 Qd8 21. Rc3 Kg8 22. Rac1 Qe7 23. h3 Qe5 24. Rxc7 Bf5 25. Qxb8 Rxb8 26. Rc8+ Bxc8 27. Rxc8+ Kf7 28. Rxb8 Qe7 29. Bxd6 Qxd6 30. Rc8 1-0

Source: Chess Player’s Chronicle, 3rd Series, Vol.3 April 1861

By 7 April he was in Hull for the census, boarding with a Licensed Porter, giving his occupation as a Chess Tutor, and indicating that he was blind (not from birth).

His parents had moved to Glossop, in the Peak District: on the same night they were in residence with three of their children. John’s occupation was now an engineer (or perhaps engraver).

Later in April, and into May, he again toured what was by then his home county of Yorkshire before taking the train to Leicester in June, where his visit attracted much press interest.

The full scores of the games were published by the same newspaper on 15 June.

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1861.06.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C34”]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 exf4 4. Bc4 Be7 5. O-O Nf6 6. d4 Na5 7. Bb3 Nxb3 8. axb3 d6 9. Bxf4 Ng4 10. e5 dxe5 11. Bxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Be6 13. c4 c6 14. Nc3 Bf6 15. Nf3 O-O 16. Ne4 Bg4 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qd2 Bxf3 19. Rxf3 Qd6 20. Raf1 Rad8 21. Rf4 Rd7 22. c5 Qd5 23. Rg4 f5 24. Rgf4 Qxc5 25. b4 Qd5 26. Qd3 Rdf7 27. Re1 Qd7 28. Qc4 Kh8 29. Re5 Re8 30. h3 Rxe5 31. dxe5 Re7 32. Rd4 Qc7 33. e6 Qc8 34. b3 h6 35. Rd6 Qc7 36. Qc5 Qb6 37. Kh2 Qxc5 38. bxc5 Kh7 39. Rd7 Rxe6 40. Rxb7 Re3 41. Rxa7 1/2-1/2

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1861.06.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C55”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. h3 Bc5 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxe4 10. Bxb4 Nxb4 11. Qb3 d5 12. Qxb4 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Be6 14. Qb4 Bd5 15. O-O f5 16. Re1 Qf6 17. Nc3 O-O-O 18. Ne5 Qh4 19. Nxe4 fxe4 20. Rac1 Rhf8 21. Rc2 Qg5 22. Qc5 Bc6 23. Qa7 b6 24. Nxc6 Kd7 25. Nxd8 Qxd8 26. Qb7 Rf6 27. Qd5+ Rd6 28. Qf5+ Re6 29. d5 Kc8 30. Qxe6+ Kb8 31. Rxe4 b5 32. Qe8 1-0

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1861.06.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C24”]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Ng5 O-O 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Ne8 8. O-O Nc6 9. Qh5 h6 10. Nf3 d6 11. Bxh6 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Qg6 d5 14. Qg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 dxc4 16. Nd2 Be6 17. Ne4 Bd6 18. Rfd1 f6 19. Bh4 g5 20. Re1 Bf5 21. Nxd6 Nxd6 22. Bg3 Ne4 23. f3 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Bxc2 25. Re7 Rf7 26. Rae1 Rxe7 27. Rxe7 b6 28. Kf2 Kf8 29. Re2 d3 30. Rd2 Re8 0-1

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1861.06.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C55”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 4. O-O Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nd5 Bc5 7. c3 O-O 8. d4 Bd6 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Bxe5 11. f4 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Bd6 13. e5 Bc5+ 14. Kh1 d6 15. b4 Bb6 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. a4 Rd8 18. c4 Be6 19. Ba3 Bxd5 20. cxd5 Qxd5 21. Qc2 c6 22. Rad1 Qh5 23. Rde1 Bc7 24. Qe4 g6 25. h3 Re8 26. Qc4 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Rf8 28. Bb2 Qh4 29. Qc3 f6 30. Qc4+ Kh8 31. Re4 Qh5 32. Qe6 Qd1+ 33. Kh2 Bb6 34. Re1 Qd2 35. Qe7 Qxf4+ 36. Kh1 Rg8 37. Bc1 Qg3 38. Rd1 Bc7 39. Kg1 Qh2+ 40. Kf2 Bb6+ 41. Kf3 Bc7 42. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1861.06.??”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C30”]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. fxe5 dxe5 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Nxe5+ Ke8 8. Nxg4 Bc5 9. c3 Nc6 10. d4 Bb6 11. O-O Bxd4+ 12. cxd4 Nxg4 13. Qxg4 Qxd4+ 14. Kh1 Nd8 15. Nc3 Rf8 16. Qh5+ g6 17. Rxf8+ Kxf8 18. Qxh7 Nf7 19. Bh6+ Nxh6 20. Rf1+ Nf5 21. exf5 g5 22. f6 Qd8 23. Qg7+ Ke8 24. Re1+ Qe7 25. Qxe7# 1-0

(Benjamin Plant and his brother James, both prominent Leicester chess players of their day and manufacturers of fancy hosiery, and the sons of Robert Fisher Plant, were not, as far as I can tell, related to Sophia Plant from near Market Harborough, whose son George Smith had an illicit relationship with a neighbour named Eliza Carter. If he hadn’t done so you wouldn’t be reading this now: their daughter Elizabeth was my great grandmother.)

The rest of the year was quiet: I’d guess he may by that point have been experiencing health problems. But by January 1862 he was on the road, or, more likely, the train, again, visiting Abingdon before returning, as promised, to Leicester, where his poor health was noted.

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1862.02.04”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C50”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Qf6 4. O-O h6 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. e5 Qd8 8. cxd4 d5 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. Qb3 Qf6 11. Nc3 Nge7 12. Ne4 Qf5 13. Re1 O-O 14. Bd3 Qd5 15. Qd1 Bg4 16. Bxh6 Bxh2+ 17. Kxh2 Qh5+ 18. Kg1 Qxh6 19. Qd2 Bxf3 20. Qxh6 gxh6 21. gxf3 f5 22. Ng3 Rad8 23. Rad1 Rxd4 24. b3 Kh8 25. Re6 Rh4 26. Rde1 f4 27. Rxe7 fxg3 28. Rh7+ Kg8 29. fxg3 Rh5 30. f4 Rd5 31. Bg6 Rd6 32. f5 1/2-1/2

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1862.02.04”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C36”]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 exf4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Qe7+ 6. Kf2 Qc5+ 7. d4 Qxc4 8. Re1+ Be7 9. b3 Qxd5 10. c4 Qd8 11. Ba3 Ng4+ 12. Kg1 Ne3 13. Qd3 O-O 14. Bc1 Bf5 15. Qe2 Nc2 16. Qxe7 Nxa1 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Nh4 g6 19. Nxf5 gxf5 20. Na3 Nc6 21. Bb2 Nxb3 22. axb3 Nxd4 23. Re5 Nxb3 24. Rxf5 Rd1+ 25. Kf2 Rd2+ 26. Kf3 Rxb2 27. Kxf4 Rf2+ 28. Kg5 Rxf5+ 29. Kxf5 c6 30. c5 Nxc5 31. Nc4 0-1

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1862.02.04”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C52”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Bb6 8. Ng5 Nh6 9. Qh5 Qf6 10. f4 Qg6 11. Qh4 exd4 12. Kh1 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Qe1+ Kd7 15. cxd4 Rae8 16. Qd2 Bxb1 17. d5 Na5 18. Bb5+ c6 19. dxc6+ bxc6 20. Ba3 cxb5 21. Raxb1 Nc6 22. f5 Qf6 23. Ne6 Nf7 24. Rxb5 Kc8 25. Bxd6 Rxe6 26. Bf4 Re7 27. Rfb1 Rd8 28. Qc2 Kb7 29. a4 Nd4 30. Qd1 Nxb5 31. Qf3+ Qc6 32. Qxc6+ Kxc6 33. axb5+ 0-1

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1862.02.04”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C30”]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Bg4 5. fxe5 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qe6 7. d4 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nc6 9. dxc5 Rd8 10. Bb5 Nge7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf4 a6 13. Bd3 Rde8 14. Qh5 h6 15. Ne4 f5 16. exf6 Rxf6 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Bxc7 Qd4+ 19. Kh1 Rc8 20. Be5 Nxe5 21. Rae1 N7c6 22. Qf5 g6 23. Qxc8+ Nd8 24. Rxe5 h5 25. Re8+ Kg7 26. Rxd8 Qe5 27. Qd7+ Kh6 28. h4 a5 29. Rff8 Qe1+ 30. Bf1 Qxh4+ 31. Kg1 Qe4 32. Rh8+ Kg5 33. Qd2+ Kf5 34. Rdf8+ 1-0

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1862.02.04”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C21”]
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Nbxd2 d6 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. c3 a6 8. Bc4 O-O 9. h3 Nbd7 10. f4 c5 11. Nf5 Nb6 12. Ne3 Nxc4 13. Nexc4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 d5 15. O-O dxe4 16. f5 Qg5 17. Qc1 Qf6 18. Qf4 b5 19. Nd6 e3 20. Ne4 Qh6 21. Rae1 Qxf4 22. Rxf4 Re8 23. Rxe3 Bb7 24. Kf2 Bxe4 25. Rfxe4 Rxe4 26. Rxe4 f6 27. Re7 Rd8 28. Ke2 h5 29. h4 Rd5 30. Re6 Rxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event “Casual game: Leicester”]
[Date “1862.02.04”]
[White “Lumley, George”]
[Black “Amateur”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C52”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 d6 8. Qa4 Nxe4 9. Bd5 Bf5 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Qxa5 c5 12. dxe5 O-O 13. exd6 cxd6 14. Qa4 h6 15. Nbd2 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 Be6 17. Qd1 d5 18. Ne5 Qf6 19. f4 c4 20. Qe1 Rfe8 21. f5 Bc8 22. Ng4 Qc6 23. Qg3 Kh7 24. f6 Bxg4 25. Qxg4 Qc5+ 26. Kh1 Qf8 27. Qf5+ g6 28. Qh3 Re5 29. Rad1 Rae8 30. Qd7 Kg8 31. Rde1 Rd8 32. Qh3 Kh7 1/2-1/2

And that was it. There was an intimation shortly afterwards that George was unwell and in need of financial support, but he was never heard from again.

There’s a possible death record in Quarter 4 of 1862, but there were other George Lumleys living in Hull at the time, so it’s by no means certain this was our man.

If it was him, his family never found out, and perhaps he hadn’t been in touch for some time. One final, rather sad, press cutting.

It’s an extraordinary story, isn’t it? Inspirational, perhaps, but ultimately also tragic. George Lumley clearly had a remarkable talent for chess: it’s possible that his blindness allowed his visual memory to develop in other ways. Looking at his games, he was certainly, by the standards of the day, a strong club level player, but when he came up against genuine master opposition he was clearly out of his depth.

His games demonstrate a considerable tactical imagination, and he was also conversant with contemporary opening theory, but he sometimes missed his opponent’s tactical points, tended to lose focus as the games continued, and sometimes misplayed endings. None of this is surprising considering he was usually playing several games at once: a cognitively demanding activity. They also provide a rare snapshot of what club standard chess looked like in 1860.

Lumley must have had a lot of assistance in many ways. You’ll have seen that his landlord in Hull was a Licensed Porter, probably working in the dockyards rather than on the trains. This suggests that he would have had the right qualities to help George find his way to the station and onto the trains. He would also have had a lot of help and support from the clubs he visited, and discussing chess with their leading players would have taught him a lot about openings.

At one level, you might think he was something of a freakshow exhibition, but there was much more to him than that. He deserves to be remembered for his chess skill, as well as for overcoming disability and earning a precarious living playing the game he loved.

It was hardly a healthy lifestyle though, and this may well have contributed to what we can only assume was an early death.

Along with his friend William Turner, George Lumley was also, to the best of my knowledge, the first visually impaired chess player in Britain to be given a name. Perhaps also in the world, unless someone knows better than me. One might also claim that he was the first British chess player of obvious working class origins to be named, at a time when chess clubs were reserved for ‘gentlemen’. Chess, as regular Minor Piece readers will not need to be reminded, is a game which transcends both social class and disability.

George’s story has been retold through three articles in Steve Mann’s excellent Yorkshire Chess History site, here, here and here. There are also several mentions, incorporating research by Owen Hindle, on Edward Winter’s Chess Notes site.

I hope you agree with me that his story and games deserve to be remembered.

Other Acknowledgements and Sources

ancestry.co.uk
findmypast.co.uk/British Newspaper Library
Google Books