Alonzo Morphy

Alonzo Michael Morphy (November 23, 1798 – November 22, 1856)^[1] was a lawyer serving as Attorney General of Louisiana from 1828 to 1830, and a justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from August 31, 1839 to March 19, 1846, and father to Paul Morphy.^[2][3][4]

1886 painting by William Buck

Biography

Born in Charleston, South Carolina,^[4] Morphy was of Spanish and Irish ancestry. Morphy moved to Louisiana, and read law under Edward Livingston.^[4] He served in the state legislature, and was also Attorney General of Louisiana.^[4] Morphy married Louise Thérèse Félicité Thelcide Le Carpentier, the musically talented daughter of a prominent French Creole family. His home was an atmosphere of genteel civility and culture where chess and music were the typical highlights of a Sunday home gathering.^[5] His son, Paul Morphy, is considered one of the greatest chess players of all time.^[4]

External links

• Former Home of Louisiana Supreme Court Judge Alonzo Morphy & His Son, World-Famous Chess Champion, Paul Morphy