Capt. George Mackenzie
Capt. George Mackenzie (1837-1891) is one of the most underappreciated figures in American chess history. He was the third generally recognized U.S. champion, dominating American competition through the 1870s and 1880s after moving here from Scotland. Mackenzie won the second, third and fifth American Chess Congresses. He did not play in the fourth Congress because of a power struggle between the Philadelphia Chess Club and the national chess organization..
Mackenzie was also a prominent international player who was considered a potential world champion by some. Steinitz, in the early 1880s, was quoted as ranking Mackenzie and Zukertort as the top players in the world besides himself.
Mackenzie was also an active promoter of chess as a columnist. He traveled a great deal, taking on the local players and generating good will. Unfortunately, Mackenzie unjustly suffered the same fate as the first U.S. champion, Charles Stanley. Both have been largely forgotten because the second US champion, Paul Morphy, had a brilliant career that eclipsed the achievements of both his predecessor and his successor.