Benjamin Franklin: America’s First Known Chess Player

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ben Franklin had more “firsts” than most Americans could dream of. But before he was a statesman, a printer, or the face on the hundred-dollar bill, Benjamin Franklin was a devoted chess player. In fact, Benjamin Franklin’s chess history goes back further than most people realize. He is widely considered America’s first known chess player and the first American to write seriously about the game. Elliott Drago, a historian and editorial officer at the Jack Miller Center, shares the story.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
This is Lee Habib and this is our American Stories,
the show where America is the star and the American people.
Our next story is about one remarkable American born the
son of a Boston candlemaker, Benjamin Franklin, grew into the
symbolic role of the archetypal American. He was, indeed a

(00:31):
blend of poor Richard Leonardo da Vinci. Franklin has the
distinction of many first He invented the lightning rod, the
Franklin stove byfocals. The catheter Chess dot Com also reminds
us that Franklin was also the first known chess player,
as well as the first chess author in America. Here

(00:51):
again to tell us the story is the Jack Miller
Centers editorial officer and historian Eliot Trego. Let's take a.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
Listen, entrepreneur, philosopher, scientist, inventor, and writer. We ought to
add Chess Master to the list of Benjamin Franklin's accomplishments.
His essay Morals of Chess combines his timeless wit, inherit, competitiveness,
and shrewd strategy that also speaks to the fragile yet

(01:20):
boundless potential of America's founding principles, originally written and presented
to Franklin's small cadre of fellow intellectuals in the seventeen thirties.
Morals of Chess would not be released for public consumption
until seventeen eighty six. Much had occurred over the course
of that half century. In seventeen thirty two, Franklin released

(01:42):
the first Poor Richard's Almanac, an immensely successful guide full
of practical advice and witticisms for American colonists. In seventeen
fifty one, he helped found the educational institution that became
the University of Pennsylvania, and throughout the seventeen fifties and
seventeen sixties he served as a postmaster in Jenile for
the Crown, and eventually an agent for the Colonies, representing

(02:03):
American interests in Great Britain, and of course, by seventeen
seventy six, Franklin and his fellow colonists began and would
eventually win, a war of liberation from Great Britain. As
the colony's most recognizable figure, Franklin's influence became essential to
the American cause, especially when he was sent to France

(02:24):
as America's first ambassador in seventeen seventy six. Franklin's convivial nature,
combined with his diplomatic acumen, made him the toast of
Paris as he regaled salons with tales, practical wisdom, and americanisms.
And while battlefield realities back in America certainly compelled France

(02:44):
to support the American cause, Franklin's soft diplomacy and charismatic
force of personality helped cement the Franco American alliance. Besides
power politics and being playful with his French admirers, Franklin
spent much of his five years in France playing chess.
While reviewing his personal papers for potential publication. In seventeen

(03:05):
seventy nine, Franklin came across Morals of Chess, which at
this point was now over forty years old. Scholars believe that,
aside from retrieving the material for publication, Franklin was motivated
to find this essay due to his indulgence, possibly over indulgence,
in playing chess with the parisional Eak. These games became

(03:25):
epic battles that lasted four hours or more, limited solely
by the number of candles available to the combatants. Franklin's
monomoniacal focus made him oblivious to anything outside the checkered board.
Franklin established the edifying purposes of the essay, and one
could argue the game itself by writing in the first sentence,

(03:47):
the game of chess is not merely an idle amusement.
To Franklin, chess instructed individual conduct, and, if played in
the proper manner, would teach players four key virtues foresight, circumspection, caution,
and quote. The habit of not being discouraged by present

(04:08):
bad appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit
of hoping for a favorable change, and that of persevering
in the search of resources. Calling chess a beneficial amusement,
he outlined eight tips so players could pass the time agreeably,
including observing the rules of the game with fidelity, remaining
patient while your opponents plot their next move, and for spectators,

(04:32):
observing the most perfect silence to allow for concentration. However,
Franklin's four key lessons foresight, circumspection, caution, and perseverance speak
as much to the game of chess as to the
political and moral responsibilities of the players on and off
the chessboard. In a larger sense, Franklin's lessons speak to

(04:56):
Americans across time and space. Living in what America then
end now described as a revolutionary era required foresight. The
Republican spirit and experiment can only be sustained by those
who consider the consequences that may attend an action. Circumspection
necessitated a keen observance of the scene of action, those

(05:16):
relations between chess pieces akin to the various social factions
of the American body politic. Yet, Americans must move with caution,
for if you touch a piece, you must move it somewhere.
If you set it down, you must let it stand.
In other words, Americans must avoid haste to prevent mistakes
and steal their resolve once they have made a fateful decision. Finally,

(05:43):
Franklin reminds players that supposed insurmountable difficulties ought not exhaust
the player, nor precipitate in attention or despare. This powerful
idea of a perseverance seated with hope reflects striving to
form a more perfect union. Urges us to remember that
momentary setbacks are precisely that momentary, and therefore liable to change.

(06:07):
If Americans are empowered to cherish those founding principles that
inspired the creation of the republic. On the last day
of the Constitutional Convention in seventeen eighty nine, American socialite
and political commentator Elizabeth Willing Powell approached Franklin as he
left the hall. She asked him, what have we got?
A republic or a monarchy? As always, Franklin gave her

(06:30):
a memorable reply, A republic if you can keep it.
Through their foresight, circumspection, caution, and perseverance, Americans attuned to
their nation's civic needs perpetuated this republic, the United States
of America by emulating the virtues of Franklin's morals of chess.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
And a terrific job on the production, editing and storytelling
by our own Greg Hengler, and a terrific job on
the storytelling by Elietrego. And he is the editorial officer
at the Jack Miller Center. And they're a nationwide network
of scholars and teachers dedicated to educating the next generation
about America's founding principles and history, something we care about

(07:16):
on this show a lot. To learn more, visit Jackmillercenter
dot org. The Story of Ben Franklin's Marvels of Chess.
Here on our American story, Leehabib Here, as we approach
our nation's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, I'd like to
remind you that all the history stories you hear on

(07:36):
this show brought to you by the great folks at
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Go to Hillsdale dot edu to find out about their
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(07:57):
online courses.