Women in Chess history.

Women have been involved in the encouragement

and growth of Chess through the centuries.

I hope you find the following trivia interesting.

As only those who know or care for the game subscribe to chess books,the three hundred principal names on Philidor's edition of 1777, affords a significant proof of the extraordinary appreciation and support of the game,throughout the period of his ascendancy, viz.., from 1746 to 1795,

Twenty-six ladies of title grace that list,
which contains a large proportion of the nobility, cabinet ministers, men distinguished in science, and at the bar, and on the bench, and several eminent divines.

Prince Leopold's support of chess, and encouraging remarks concerning it at Oxford, in Scotland and at the Birkbeck, had much to do with the taste for the game which sprung up among the humbler working classes, and which happily has been continuously though steadily progressing.

One of our most genial and reliable chess editors has recently informed us, on very high authority, that even our Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, has at times shewn an appreciation of chess.

Three years after the commencement of her reign the first County Chess Association, was formed in Yorkshire. There were at this time but twelve chess clubs in this country The year 1849 signalised the first Chess tournament found on record, it took place at Simpson's and Mr H. T. Buckle writer and author, the best amateur at this time, came forth first. This was two years before the first world's International Chess Tournament of 1851, was held in London, of which the Prince consort was patron, since then thirty-four National tournaments and forty-eight country meetings, and twenty University matches between Oxford and Cambridge have taken place.

Quoted from:
CHESS HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES,
by H. E. (Henry Edward) Bird.