THE SILVER KING
The Silver King Trophy
(Presented to the club by John Rhodes in 1885) |
John Rhodes (1814-98)
Rhodes would have been 71 years old when he presented the Silver King to the club in 1885. He joined the club in 1834 as a twenty year old and was an active member for more than sixty years. He was President of the club for much of the Victorian age as well as being one of the best players in the country. In today's terms, he would have been around 2300 at his peak. [Edo Ratings.] A successful stockbroker with offices on Albion Street, in later life he became a magistrate and JP. He had a large family and lived in Potternewton, the very poshest part of Leeds at the time. (Spencer Place had gates both ends to keep the rif-raf out.) Before John Rhodes, Leeds Chess Club would have been little more than a group of affluent friends meeting in a coffee house to play skittles, smoke cigars, and booze heavily. Along with Robert Cadman (Hon. Treas.) he knocked the club into shape, sobered us up, got us organised, and turned us into a force to be reckoned with. Full Biography
(By Yorkshire's History GM, Steve Mann) Game: Paul Morphy v John Rhodes, 1858 (Notes by J. Lowenthal) |