'. . . Mackenzie, probably the greatest problemist of his day, who composed most beautiful conceptions after becoming totally blind . . .'
T. Taverner, 1924, Chess Editor, “Daily News”
Tributes to A F Mackenzie:
Daily Gleaner, June 24, 1905
CHESS MASTER PASSES AWAY
The Death of Mr. A. F. MacKenzie
A SPLENDID REPUTATION
Life Devoted with Success To the Great Game.
The Death of Mr. A. F. MacKenzie
A SPLENDID REPUTATION
Life Devoted with Success To the Great Game.
It is with deep regret we have to chronicle the death of Mr. A. F. Mackenzie the celebrated chess player and author.
Born on October 6th, 1861, Mr. Mackenzie was the second son of Mr. E. J. Mackenzie. From early youth, he displayed a passionate fondness for Chess; and his study of the game commenced very early in life. Out of these small beginnings grew the master mind that became the wonder of the world.
Mr. Mackenzie, who at one time edited a Chess column in the GLEANER, secured a world-wide reputation; and his writings and problems were copied and reproduced in the leading chess organs and newspapers of England, Germany and the United States. It was a reputation to be proud of, that which he gained: and in his later life, sorely stricken as he was by blindness, the knowledge of his unique achievement brought him great comfort.
He was the author of a book entitled "Chess: Its Prose and Poetry," which attracted considerable attention on its appearance, and Mr. Mackenzie.had just compiled another book which is Ib is about to be issued in America when he was stricken by the hand of death. It is expected that this book will appear shortly.
Mr. Mackenzie was also something of a student, psychology being a favourite of his. He contributed an article toe the GLEANER'S Christmas number for 1902 on "Glimpses Beyond the Grave," and in the 1903 edition he had a sketch on "School-Day Reminiscences." His "Glimpses Beyond the Grave" was very highly appreciated.
The deceased gentleman was widely known here, and his fame spread to many centers in Europe. News of his death will be received with universal regret in the world of Chess.
To his bereaved relatives we tender our heartfelt sympathy.
Born on October 6th, 1861, Mr. Mackenzie was the second son of Mr. E. J. Mackenzie. From early youth, he displayed a passionate fondness for Chess; and his study of the game commenced very early in life. Out of these small beginnings grew the master mind that became the wonder of the world.
Mr. Mackenzie, who at one time edited a Chess column in the GLEANER, secured a world-wide reputation; and his writings and problems were copied and reproduced in the leading chess organs and newspapers of England, Germany and the United States. It was a reputation to be proud of, that which he gained: and in his later life, sorely stricken as he was by blindness, the knowledge of his unique achievement brought him great comfort.
He was the author of a book entitled "Chess: Its Prose and Poetry," which attracted considerable attention on its appearance, and Mr. Mackenzie.had just compiled another book which is Ib is about to be issued in America when he was stricken by the hand of death. It is expected that this book will appear shortly.
Mr. Mackenzie was also something of a student, psychology being a favourite of his. He contributed an article toe the GLEANER'S Christmas number for 1902 on "Glimpses Beyond the Grave," and in the 1903 edition he had a sketch on "School-Day Reminiscences." His "Glimpses Beyond the Grave" was very highly appreciated.
The deceased gentleman was widely known here, and his fame spread to many centers in Europe. News of his death will be received with universal regret in the world of Chess.
To his bereaved relatives we tender our heartfelt sympathy.
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Times-Democrat, New Orleans
July 9th, 1905
"An Irreparable Loss to the Chess Problem World"
We note with feelings of the deepest regret the announcement of the death of Arthur Ford Mackenzie on June 23, 1905, at his home in Kingston, Jamaica.
Naturally, only those enthusiasts who are deeply interested, or actively engaged in the problem world will quite realize what an irreparable loss has been sustained by that attractive and instructive branch of the game. Almost completely isolated, as it were, in his far-off West Indian island home, living in surroundings that could hardly have been conductive to so rare a development of chess talent, it must have been due solely to the innate chess genius of our deceased friend, overcoming all draw-backs and disadvantages of environment that he should have attained the world-wide eminence that he did alike in the problem-literature and in the practical compositive art of the game.
In the Chess Monthly of March, 1896, Mr. B. G. Laws, the well-known London composer, made the following well-balanced estimate of Mr. Mackenzie's genius:
"Few composers names are as familiar to the problem student as is Mr. Mackenzie's. His success in problem tourneys has been almost wonderful, and, taking into consideration the merit of his work in problem construction, he must be regarded as a problem composer whose accomplishments reach the highest standards of the ideal at which they aim. Probably no composer within the past fifteen years (and we may add the decade from 1896 to the present time--Chess Editor, Times Democrat.) has been so prominent as a prize-winner, for to nearly every competition of note he contributed his entry, and very seldom, when he was so represented, was his name absent from the list of honors. For many years he conducted the chess department of the Jamaica GLEANER, and those who were fortunate enough to see his weekly budget will echo our opinion that it was, from the problem lover's point of view, the best of its kind. Problems were Mr. Mckenzie's forte and his articles, notes and criticisms proved that he had an uncommonly intelligent grasp of the subject, added to which he possessed a splendid memory. As an authority upon the subject of problems, one has but to remember the fine work, 'Chess: Its Poetry and Its Prose,' a treatise which was received with enthusiasm about ten years ago and is often now quoted and alluded to in discussing questions of problem law.
We, ourselves, have always considered that work at once a marvel of composition and of didactics in the problem art, and we believe that it will continue through the years of chess a lasting monument to his memory, outside of and and in addition to the wonderful array of problem gems that he has left behind him for the admiration and fruitful study of future lovers of the art.
Mr.Mackenzie was born in Jamaica, in 1860, and for the past nine years he had been totally blind; in spite of this apparently insurmountable obstacle, however, the eminent composer went on with his well-beloved labour, composing over two hundred problems without sight of board or men, indeed, he often averred that his best work was done "sans voir."
Mr. Alain C. White, who for some time past has been arranging a collection of Mr. Mackenzie's problems, writes as follows to the "Brooklyn Eagle:" I was revising the last proofs of 'Chess Lyrics' when the news of Mr. Mackenzie's death reached me, and I want it to stand just as it was approved by him. I shall, however, make a short addition at the end of the work, possibly including a few problems he had at various times sent me, but not intended to be printed in the work. Although the book will only be added to, not altered, it will be nearly 600 pages, including a very long introductory talk by Mr. Mackenzie, which will now be, as it were, his last communication to the chess world. It will appear about Aug. 1."
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PROBLEM NO. 1637.
IN MEMORIAM. By Mr. A. F. Mackenzie, of Kingston, Jamaica. [First prize, two-mover section, St. John (N.B.) Globe problem tourney.] BLACK (8 Pieces.) 
WHITE (11 Pieces.)
( K 2 R 2 Q b ; 2 B 5 ; 1 p 2 P 3 ; 3 r 2 P 1 ; p 2 k 4 ; 6 S 1 ; 1 s 1 P P s 1 r ; S 1 R 5) White to play and mate in two moves. |
In view of the lamentable news from Kingston, we glanced over some of our early columns and found that the above beautiful composition was the first of Mr. Mackenzie's problems published by us on Jan. 18,1885, more than twenty years ago. In this tourney the famous composer won no less than three prizes—the first and the second in the two-mover section and the third in the three- mover division—a truly notable achievement, which, however the great problemist was often to repeat in the years that were to follow.
R.I.P. 
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Lima News, March 13, 1934
The Blind Chess Expert
Arthur Ford Mackenzie, recognized by some chess experts as the greatest chess problem composer of all time, was without dispute one of the three greatest in chess composition. He gained 97 prizes and honorable mentions in international competition during his 9 years of total blindness as against 92 in his 16 years of visual competition.
The Blind Chess Expert
Arthur Ford Mackenzie, recognized by some chess experts as the greatest chess problem composer of all time, was without dispute one of the three greatest in chess composition. He gained 97 prizes and honorable mentions in international competition during his 9 years of total blindness as against 92 in his 16 years of visual competition.
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In the Gleaner of June 13, 1918, it was reported that the portrait of Arthur Ford MacKenzie, the celebrated composer of chess problems, and writer on chess had been added to the Institute of Jamaica's Portrait Gallery, as indicated at the monthly meeting of the Board of Governors.
