Frederick Perrin

Who was Frederick Perrin?

Frederic Perrin was an American chess master.

Born in London, descended from a Swiss family, he came to the United States in 1845. He played twice in the American Chess Congress at New York 1857 and Chicago 1874. He participated several times in the New York Chess Club Tournament, winning in 1859.

Perrin had been professor of languages at Princeton College. A fine linguist, he had mastered French and German and was very fluent in English. In the 1850s he was president of the New York Chess Club. In later years he was an honorary member of the Brooklyn Chess Club where he defeated McKenzie in a game a few weeks before his death. He died of pneumonia at home at the corner of Pacific Street and Flatbush Avenue after a three week illness. Reportedly his last words were "Doctor, I am puzzled over that last move of mine."