Bernhard Gregory
Bernhard Gregory (born 10 Apriljul / April 22 1879greg in Tallinn / Estonia, .. † February 2nd 1939 in Berlin- Schmargendorf ) was a strong Berlin chess master in the first half of the 20th century. His historical highest Elo rating was 2493 in 1916.
Life
Bernard Gregory, was born as the son of the lawyer and Senator Ferdinand Oscar Gregory and Alexandrine Emmi Gregory, born Gordofski, in Reval, now Tallinn.
He attended as wealthy parents son from 1885 to 1893, the Knights and the cathedral school to Reval. The language of instruction was Russian from 1885, at home, however, was spoken German and Estonian. At this school he has learned with the support of the father as an 8- year-old chess game.
1898 - two years after the death of his father in Reval - he first went to Munich to study chemistry and engineering sciences, and later he continued his studies in Berlin.
He married while still a student at age 23, the only 18 -year-old Ida Hempel from Leipzig. The marriage took place on September 2, 1902 in London. In 1904, the young couple lived in Berlin- Schöneberg. 1903 daughter Iselin Gregory was born in 1905 another daughter Maud Dolly Gregory. In 1914, the couple separated, Ida Gregory moved with her daughters returned to Leipzig to her parents, Bernard Gregory remained in Berlin. During this period - ie 1904 to 1914 - he was an active chess player in Berlin and a renowned chess master. As can be seen from the correspondence with his wife, he was in these years, or more often in his parents' house in Reval (Tallinn ).
Since he was born in Este, which was then under Russian rule, he was listed as " stateless " and not drafted for military service during the First World War. He complains in a letter that he is treated by the Berlin offices as an "enemy alien ".
1927 Gregory has probably retired from professional chess.
In 1931 his first marriage was finally divorced and he married the same year his second wife, Helene, born Walsleben, from this marriage there are no children. In 1932 he received after several attempts his certificate of naturalization as a German, were so now his daughters no longer stateless, but German.
There is no more about whether he has after 1914 still actively participated in chess tournaments or even won championships documents. In the notarization of his inheritance contract in 1931, however, the chess master Paul Johner from Berlin- Charlottenburg was present as a witness.
Gregory worked as an engineer and inventor in various employments in Berlin, which he maintained as a place of residence until his death. He died on February 2, 1939 in Berlin, probably from cancer.