The Chess Master of 417 Royal Street

The building at 417 Royal Street dates to 1795. From 1841 it belonged to the Morphy family, and it was home to Paul Morphy, born in New Orleans in 1837, whose mother kept a lively musical household here. He was winning against strong players by the age of ten. In 1857 he won the First American Chess Congress, and in 1858 he crossed to Europe and beat its leading masters, including Adolf Anderssen. Then he stepped away. He gave up competitive play while still young, and is remembered as the pride and sorrow of chess. On July 10, 1884, at 47, he was found dead in his bath in this house. The family sold it in 1891; it was later given to Tulane University, and Brennan's restaurant has occupied it since the 1950s.