Theodor Lichtenhein


Theodor Lichtenhein was an American chess master.
Born at Königsberg, in East Prussia, he learned chess at the age of 12, and six years afterwards, he was president of the Königsberg Chess Club. He studied at first for the medical profession, and afterwards entered the service of the Prussian army.
He moved to the US in November 1851 aboard the ship Henry Clay, and at first devoted nearly all his time to his mercantile wholesale business. Then in 1856, he joined the New York Chess Club and soon became its strongest member. In the 1st American Chess Congress held in New York from 6 October10 November 1857, and won by Paul Morphy, he took third prize. He won against Charles Henry Stanley in 1st round, beat Frederick Perrin in 2nd round, lost to Morphy in semifinal, and beat Benjamin Raphael in the 3rd place final.
Lichtenhein was elected the New York CC's president in 1858. He drew with Perrin in a match New York vs. Brooklyn in 1860, and won a match against Hardman Philips Montgomery at Philadelphia 1861. He served as a Major in the 58th Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Civil War, acting also as a correspondent for Frank Leslies' Illustrated Newspaper. He died in Chicago.