According to David Levy's biography, "Howard Staunton", Edgar Sheppard acted
as second for Staunton in the negotiations for a second match against Daniel
Harrwitz, to whom he sent a letter, dated 6 January 1854, demanding the
forfeited 25 pounds.

I would like to know whether Edgar Sheppard was a chess player, please.

He was a fairly distinguished doctor specialising in psychology, and for
some time he worked at Colney Hatch. Sheppard's wife was Belgian, and
while the said negotiations were in progress, Staunton spent some time in
Brussels, which is probably a coincidence, but could indicate an unsuspected
relationship between the two men - perhaps even doctor/patient, but that
is, of course, highly speculative. As you may know, Staunton played against
Lasa while he was abroad. Was that the main purpose of his visit, or did it
arise from the opportunity of his already being in Brussels?

Later, in 1864, Staunton himself wrote a letter from "Colney Hatch Park",
which again is probably a coincidence and nothing to do with Sheppard.

Best wishes,

John Townsend
Howard Staunton research project:
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/page7.html

According to my notes, the 1852 Chess Player's Chronicle gives some games and
results for a tournament in Worcestershire, which was won by someone named
Sheppard. I will have to check in the issue itself to see whether he is called a
doctor, and whether his first name is given.

I also have some notes regarding a player of the time period who is called
Shepherd (a Shepherd is given as playing for Wakefield in the 1856 Ches Player's
chronicle, and a player named E. Shepherd from Wakefield is said to have
organized the 1st meeting of the Yorkshire chess Association (given in both the
Handbuch des Schachspiels and A Century of British Chess). Spelling was sometimes
loose, so it is possible that E. Shepherd = Edgar Sheppard. I am sure you have a
better idea than I do as to whether Colney hatch is anywhere near Wakefield.

The quote from chess Player's Chronicle says Staunton visited the Continent in
search of health and relaxation, implying that these were the main goals, and
that getting to meet Lasa was a nice bonus.

Jerry Spinrad

In article , "John Townsend" writes:
| According to David Levy's biography, "Howard Staunton", Edgar Sheppard acted
| as second for Staunton in the negotiations for a second match against Daniel
| Harrwitz, to whom he sent a letter, dated 6 January 1854, demanding the
| forfeited 25 pounds.
|
| I would like to know whether Edgar Sheppard was a chess player, please.
|
| He was a fairly distinguished doctor specialising in psychology, and for
| some time he worked at Colney Hatch. Sheppard's wife was Belgian, and
| while the said negotiations were in progress, Staunton spent some time in
| Brussels, which is probably a coincidence, but could indicate an unsuspected
| relationship between the two men - perhaps even doctor/patient, but that
| is, of course, highly speculative. As you may know, Staunton played against
| Lasa while he was abroad. Was that the main purpose of his visit, or did it
| arise from the opportunity of his already being in Brussels?
|
| Later, in 1864, Staunton himself wrote a letter from "Colney Hatch Park",
| which again is probably a coincidence and nothing to do with Sheppard.
|
| Best wishes,
|
| John Townsend
| Howard Staunton research project:
| http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/page7.html
|
|
|
|
|
|

Jeremy Spinrad wrote:
According to my notes, the 1852 Chess Player's Chronicle gives some games
and
results for a tournament in Worcestershire, which was won by someone named
Sheppard. I will have to check in the issue itself to see whether he is
called a
doctor, and whether his first name is given.


Interestingly, Edgar Sheppard was born in Worcester, but I thought he moved
to the London/North Middlesex area. For example, his letter of Jan. 1854
was written from Enfield. I would be glad to know the outcome of Jeremy's
further enquiry.

I also have some notes regarding a player of the time period who is called
Shepherd (a Shepherd is given as playing for Wakefield in the 1856 Ches
Player's
chronicle, and a player named E. Shepherd from Wakefield is said to have
organized the 1st meeting of the Yorkshire chess Association (given in both
the
Handbuch des Schachspiels and A Century of British Chess). Spelling was
sometimes
loose, so it is possible that E. Shepherd = Edgar Sheppard. I am sure you
have a
better idea than I do as to whether Colney hatch is anywhere near
Wakefield.


Wakefield is much further north. This E. Shepherd was already active in
chess by 1840 (See Sergeant's "A Century of British Chess", p. 96). I am
fairly sure he is not Edgar, who was not born until about 1821, as I recall.

The quote from chess Player's Chronicle says Staunton visited the Continent
in
search of health and relaxation, implying that these were the main goals,
and
that getting to meet Lasa was a nice bonus.


Well spotted. After sending my post last night, I noticed that Sergeant on
p. 86 echoes this objective of health. It seems to add to the possibility
that Edgar Sheppard, if not actually treating Staunton, was giving him
health advice, and that he laid on a holiday facility in Brussels for him.
This is still pretty speculative, though.


Best wishes,

John Townsend
Howard Staunton research project:
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/page7.html

I looked it up last night, and found that the Sheppard of the Worcestershire
tournament is Rev. J.H. Sheppard, not Edgar. Thus, I have no knowledge of Edgar
Sheppard being a chess player. He is mentioned a number of times in the London
Times for his medical practice, but never in regard to chess.

Sorry!

Jerry Spinrad

In article , "John Townsend" writes:
| Jeremy Spinrad wrote:
| According to my notes, the 1852 Chess Player's Chronicle gives some games
| and
| results for a tournament in Worcestershire, which was won by someone named
| Sheppard. I will have to check in the issue itself to see whether he is
| called a
| doctor, and whether his first name is given.
|
|
| Interestingly, Edgar Sheppard was born in Worcester, but I thought he moved
| to the London/North Middlesex area. For example, his letter of Jan. 1854
| was written from Enfield. I would be glad to know the outcome of Jeremy's
| further enquiry.
|
| I also have some notes regarding a player of the time period who is called
| Shepherd (a Shepherd is given as playing for Wakefield in the 1856 Ches
| Player's
| chronicle, and a player named E. Shepherd from Wakefield is said to have
| organized the 1st meeting of the Yorkshire chess Association (given in both
| the
| Handbuch des Schachspiels and A Century of British Chess). Spelling was
| sometimes
| loose, so it is possible that E. Shepherd = Edgar Sheppard. I am sure you
| have a
| better idea than I do as to whether Colney hatch is anywhere near
| Wakefield.
|
|
| Wakefield is much further north. This E. Shepherd was already active in
| chess by 1840 (See Sergeant's "A Century of British Chess", p. 96). I am
| fairly sure he is not Edgar, who was not born until about 1821, as I recall.
|
| The quote from chess Player's Chronicle says Staunton visited the Continent
| in
| search of health and relaxation, implying that these were the main goals,
| and
| that getting to meet Lasa was a nice bonus.
|
|
| Well spotted. After sending my post last night, I noticed that Sergeant on
| p. 86 echoes this objective of health. It seems to add to the possibility
| that Edgar Sheppard, if not actually treating Staunton, was giving him
| health advice, and that he laid on a holiday facility in Brussels for him.
| This is still pretty speculative, though.
|
|
| Best wishes,
|
| John Townsend
| Howard Staunton research project:
| http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/page7.html
|
|
|

Jeremy Spinrad wrote in message ...
I looked it up last night, and found that the Sheppard of the
Worcestershire
tournament is Rev. J.H. Sheppard, not Edgar. Thus, I have no knowledge of
Edgar
Sheppard being a chess player. He is mentioned a number of times in the
London
Times for his medical practice, but never in regard to chess.

Sorry!

Thank you for this, Jeremy. No need to be sorry! In a sense, I find it a
positive development. If Edgar Sheppard was not a chess player - and this
is still uncertain - why did he act as Staunton's second? Answer: he was a
friend helping him out, and/or he was giving Staunton health advice -
perhaps his doctor. I find this more interesting than if he were a chess
player ...

Best wishes,


John Townsend
Howard Staunton research project:
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/page7.html

In fact, Edgar Sheappard did play chess. The Chess Player's Chronicle
of 1854 gives a game in which he loses to Loewenthal, who gave him odds
of the exchange. That would make Sheppard quite a competent player,
though not master strength. Brien got similar odds from Loewenthal
around this time. I gather that the exchange was felt to be somewhere
between P+1 and P+2 odds.

Seconds in those days were not like seconds of today. There would have
been no help in analyzing adjournments; this would have been considered
very unethical. Seconds in other matches were generally chess players,
though not always first rate ones. I would not be surprised if Sheppard
was a financial backer of Staunton. He also could write scathing
letters, as he shows in the correspondence regarding the match printed
in the CPC.

I haven't read Harrwitz's side of the story; he had his own chess
magazine at the time. It would be interesting to have two people read
each side's version of the story without seeing the other side
presented, and see how they summarized the causes of the dispute over
the match.

Jerry Spinrad

Jerry Spinrad wrote (snipped):
In fact, Edgar Sheappard did play chess. The Chess Player's Chronicle
of 1854 gives a game in which he loses to Loewenthal, who gave him odds
of the exchange...

So he was a chess player after all. It is interesting that he played
Loewenthal. Just before the latter's match against Harrwitz, Staunton "had
Loewenthal down to stay with him for a few days at his house in Cheshunt,
and gave him some coaching in the openings" (Sergeant, p. 86). Edgar
Sheppard wrote letters about that time from Enfield, which is only a few
miles from Cheshunt. So it seems quite possible that Sheppard's game
against Loewenthal was played at Staunton's house during those few days. I
have not identified where Staunton's house in Cheshunt was exactly.

Seconds in those days were not like seconds of today. There would have
been no help in analyzing adjournments; this would have been considered
very unethical.

I don't suppose there were many adjournments. When they did arise, I
imagine they must have favoured the player on move, as sealed moves were not
introduced until Paris 1878.

Best wishes,

John Townsend
Howard Staunton research project:
http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk/page7.html