James Thompson (23 September 1804, London – 2 December 1870, New York) was an American chess master. Early life Born in London, he arrived in New York, where formed the New York Chess Club in 1839. Chess career He participated in the First American Chess Congress at New York 1857, and lost a match to Paul Morphy (0 : 3) in the first round. He also lost other matches to him; casual (0 : 5) in 1857, two formal (3.5 : 5.5) in May/June 1859 and (6 : 10) in October 1859, and casual (1 : 3) in 1860 (Morphy gave odds of a knight in three latter matches). He drew a match with Charles D. Mead (1.5 : 1.5) in 1857, and played several times in New York Chess Club tournaments, losing to Frederick Perrin in 1854, 1857, and 1859, and James A. Leonard in 1860/61. Death Thompson died in 1870 in New York City. References External links Chessgames.com - James Thompson 1804 births 1870 deaths English chess players American chess players 19th-century chess players