Samuel M. Joseph (20.8.1847-1910)

Chess composer

Samuel M. Joseph (20.8.1847-1910) was born in London and emigrated to the USA in 1871, where he worked as a jeweller. He ran chess corners in several American newspapers and organised composition tournaments, including one for self-mates, to which the great William Shinkman submitted more than 50 problems - a world record, according to A. C. White. Joseph himself composed around 400 problems, most of which were destroyed in a fire. Best known is his two-move problem from the 1895 Brighton Society tournament with the surprising zugzwang key: 1.La1!