Alfred Burden

Article on Burden in the Northern Whig 11th June 1914

An Eminent Belfast Chess Player

Among the foremost British chess players of the sixties was Francis Burden, who was born in Belfast in 1830, and who died there on January 13th, 1882, the same day as his intimate friend the renowned Stanley Boden. By profession Burden was a civil engineer, and in that capacity in 1870 went to Venezuela. Where he contracted malaria, which rendered him an invalid for the remainder of his days, and which necessitated his retirement from public chess. Burden was a dashing and brilliant player, and in the halycon days of Simpson's Divan was certain to draw a galllery. He played all and sundry for nothing, and among his various opponents were Buckle, Boden, Wormald and Harrwitz. Wherever burden was there was fun. A good problem would be brought out and whoever touched a piece without having found a solution was fined a cigar all round. The man who paid the most forfeits and with the worst grace was Henry Jessel, brother of the Master of the Rolls. Burden taught de Vere chess. De Vere was sometime chess editor of the "Field" but consumption and an ill-considered life ended a brilliant chess career at the age of 30. Burden was a man of many parts. He was a strong whist player with eccentric notions as to original leads. At billiards he was, for an amateur, fairly expert. Besides these recreations he was a chemist, a mathematician, and a scholar of no mean repute. His great handicap was his lack of health.