What is Hyacinthe Henri Boncourt?
'''Hyacinthe Henri Boncourt''' (1765? &#x2013; March 23, 1840) was one of the leading [[chess]] players in France in the years between 1820 and 1840.<ref>The Philidorian, ed. by G. Walker (1838) page 159.</ref> == Biography == Not much is known about his life. The date of his birth, 1765, is based on a comment by an English chess player, [[George Walker (chess player)|George Walker]], that in 1839 Boncourt was about 70 years old.<ref>G. Walker, Chess and chess-players (1859) page 161.</ref> Boncourt learned how to play chess from students of the great [[François-André Danican Philidor]], including [[Carlier (chess player)|Carlier]], [[Bernard (chess player)|Bernard]] and [[Leger (chess player)|Leger]] who often played at the [[Café de la Régence]].<ref>Le Palamède edited by St. Amant, vol. 2 (1837) page 499.</ref> He was a [[civil servant]], and chess was mostly a hobby for him. He got his best results after he was 60 years old when after retiring from work, he could spend all his time playing chess. In 1818, for a brief period, he was one of the players hidden inside the chess machine, [[the Turk]]. At one time he was sick, and he did not play very well.<ref>La Régence, ed. by Société d'amateurs, Volume 3 (1851) page 7.</ref> While he was hiding inside the Turk, he could not stop coughing and he could be heard by people watching. After this, the owner of the Turk, [[Johann Nepomuk Maelzel|Mälzel]], added some noisy gears. This was simply to cover any noise coming from the person inside.<ref>W. Fiske, The book of the first American chess congress (1859) page 442</ref> == References and notes == {{reflist}} == Other websites == * Some of the games of Hyacinthe Henri Boncourt can be found at [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=61820 chessgames.com] * [http://heritageechecsfra.free.fr/boncourt.htm Dominique Thimognier: Boncourt Hyacinthe Henri] (French) {{DEFAULTSORT:Boncourt, Hyacinthe Henri}} [[Category:1840 deaths]] [[Category:French chess players]] [[Category:1760s births]]