Paul Morphy had everything you could think of for success. He had a wealthy family, was a hard worker, had an amazing mind, and was well-liked by almost everyone he knew. Yet throughout his life he encountered failure and sadness. His near-perfect circumstances and tumultuous final year of life earned him the nickname by which he will forever be remembered, "The Pride and Sorrow of Chess." for great things. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Born June 22, 1837 Paul Charles Morphy was the son of Alonzo Morphy and a young Creole named Louise Carpentier, both of whom were from prominent New Orleans families. Throughout his life, Morphy's father held many high-paying and prestigious jobs. He was a lawyer, Louisiana state legislator, attorney general, and even a Supreme Court justice. These circumstances combined to give Paul all the things a person needed to thrive at that time and ensure he had the best education available to maximize his potential. Morphy was born with an extraordinary mind. Most people born under these circumstances would be content with what they had, but not young Paul. He worked hard and excelled in his early school years and learned to play chess around the age of ten. In 1850 he was accepted to Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. He graduated in 1854, but stayed there an extra year to learn as much as he could. He graduated again the following year, this time with honors. Continuing his college education, he then went to the University of Louisiana to study law. Paul graduated and received an LLM on April 4, 1857. In preparation to receive his degree, he is said to have memorized the entire Book of Codes and Laws of Louisiana. Aside from his academic excellence, Paul Morphy achieved great success in the world of chess before he even left for college at Spring Hill. He was the first recognized chess prodigy to become an exceptionally strong chess player as a boy. According to his uncle, Ernest Morphy, no one formally taught Morphy how to play chess; rather, Morphy taught himself as a child simply by watching others play. He demonstrated this feat when his father and Ernest played a game one night. When the game ended and Ernest lost, Morphy surprised them by declaring that Ernest should have won. He then proceeded to reset the position and played the game while they watched in amazement. When Morphy was ten years old, General Winfield Scott visited New Orleans. Scott, who was a formidable player himself, wanted to be challenged by a strong player, so he sent his aids to look for a worthy opponent. That night when young Morphy was brought to Scott, the general was initially offended; believing it to be an insult. However, after Paul won both games, one of six ridiculous moves, Scott and his badly bruised ego retired for the night. When he was twelve, Morphy played three games against a professional chess master, Johann Lowenthal. On the twelfth move of the first game Lowenthal realized that he was not playing with a simply skilled boy, but a gifted one. Every time Morphy made a good move, Lowenthal's eyebrows would raise in a manner described by Ernest Morphy as "comique". Lowenthal lost all three games he and Morphy played. The following year Morphy was considered the best chess player in all of New Orleans. After the young man had completed all his academic studies he was not yet of legal age to practice the profession of lawyer, and so, at the urging of..