Alexander Cunningham (jurist)

Alexander Cunningham of Block (c. 1650/60 in Scotland; † December 1730 in The Hague, Netherlands), was a Scottish jurist, scholar and chess players. A mix-up with his contemporary, the historian Alexander Cunningham, has often led to confusion. Back to whom both the Cunningham Gambit, is not finally resolved until today.

Journey

Alexander Cunningham was probably born 1650-1660 in Cumnock in East Ayrshire West of Scotland. He was the eldest of six children of the parish priest John Cunningham and Elizabeth Cunningham. From his father he inherited a small land holdings, whose name - "Block " or " Bloak " - the name of the chess player has been added for better differentiation.

After his education, which partly took place in the Netherlands, he graduated from probably at Edinburgh University in 1676. He then studied at 1677/78 Roman law at the University of Utrecht in John Voet, who praised him as one of his best students. In 1686 he became tutor of Lord George Douglas, the youngest son of the Duke of Queensberry. During this time, to 1693 Cunningham traveled with his pupil to Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Poland and Denmark.

His noble patron who counted politically to the Whigs prevailed, that Cunningham was appointed in 1698 as Professor of Civil Law at the University of Edinburgh. The appeal was limited bound to the parliamentary constituency ( " Parliamentary appointment" ) and temporally ( until 1709). After the Tories 1710 in London came back to the government also changed the political situation in Edinburgh in favor of the Tories or the Jacobites, as the Catholic followers of the house of Stuart were called. The University then appointed in 1710 a successor for Cunningham.

In this situation, Cunningham was forced to leave his Scottish homeland and settle in The Hague. Here he lived on a handsome pension, which granted him the Duke of Queensberry, and could quite his interest in the classical Roman authors and chess devote passion. In the latter capacity, he was best known and has received numerous visits from leading chess players from all parts of Europe. His scientific reputation justified especially his 1721 published edition of Horace, in which he dealt critically with his predecessor Richard Bentley.

Cunningham left a valuable library, which was later brought to Scotland and there dissolved or sold. He died childless. The estate remained block a few generations in the possession of relatives and their descendants.

Chess importance

In a biography of the theologian James Wodrow states that " Alexander Cunningham of Bloak (sic) " was at the time as the best chess player in Europe. The philosopher Leibniz expressed once in a letter to the mathematician Thomas Burnet the hope that Cunningham may publish his views on chess. Games or chess details of it are, however, not known.

Partial Cunningham is on the " gambit of the three farmers ' recycled, which now represents a sub-variant of the Cunningham Gambit. The three farmers Gambit arises after the moves: 1.e2 e5 -e4 e7 - 2.f2 - f4 -f3 e5xf4 3.Sg1 Bf8 - e7 4.Lf1 - c4 Be7 5.g2 - g3 - h4 f4xg3 6.0-0 g3xh2 7.Kg1 -h1. It was first mentioned in a manuscript of a certain Caze of 1706 and then in the chess book by Joseph Bertin, published in London in 1735. Philipp Stamma and Philidor named the Gambit after his "inventor".

Here, the same historian Alexander Cunningham (1654-1737) comes into play, which also acted as a chess player and (before 1710) was staying in The Hague. He played games with the Earl of Sunderland, taught at the the mentioned manuscript of 1706. HJR Murray saw that it was proven that the historian sought to popularize Gambit. The version that this was ultimately the author of gambits, is found in most chess encyclopedias. On the other hand, Cunningham block of 1710-1730 was at the height of his chess notoriety, it is unclear to whom the naming reference ultimately took.