Yorkshire Chess History |
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François Landolphe |
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There was a Francois Landolphe who arrived at Dover, from Ostend, on 29th May 1850. The 1851 census described his occupation as “Ex Representative of People (France)”. This rather suggests he was a former French parliamentarian who had perhaps fallen foul of the general political upheaval in France from 1848 onwards, and left the country, as so many did at that time.
The 1851 census found the 41-year-old ex representative of the French people lodging with Jane Tozer at 34 Bedford Street, Westminster.
At some stage during the next eight years he moved to Bradford. Neither White’s Directory of Leeds, Bradford &c, 1854, nor Lunds' Bradford Directory, 1856, seems to contain him.
We know from chess records that he he was in Bradford by 1859.
The 1861 census found him as a 51-year-old living on his own, apart from a servant, at Hanover Square, Bradford.
White’s Directory of Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield &c, 1866, listed F. Landolphe at 59 Hanover Square, Bradford, under “Academies and Schools”, and Mons. F. Landolphe as living at 59 Hanover Square, Bradford. He was described as Mons. Landolphe, B.L., Dijon, in an advert for Bradford High School, where he was quotes as being the master for French.
White's Directory of Leeds & the West Riding, 1870, listed Francis (not Francois) Landolphe as professor of French, living at 52 Hanover Square still. It persisted with “Francis” in the trades section, under “Academies and Schools”.
At some time from 1861 to 1871, he must have got married, as the 1871 census lists him as a 60-year-ol teacher of languages living with his wife, 30-year-old London-born schoolmistress Frances Elise Landolphe, and a servant, at 52 Hanover Terrace, Bradford.
We know from chess records that he was still in Bradford in 1878, but Byles’s Post Office Bradford Directory, 1879-80, seems not to include him, suggesting he had died or left Bradford. The fact that his wife is not listed suggests the couple had merely moved.
Although Frances Elise Landolphe died at Brighton, no Landolphe seems to be listed in Sussex directories for 1881, 1905 of 1915, suggesting her arrival in Brighton was at some time from 1915 to 1920.
Death
Although details of the death of Francois Landolphe aren’t known to the writer, it is apparent that his widow ended up in Brighton, living at 41, Norfolk Road, Brighton, Sussex, where she died on 7th January 1920. Her death was described in the coroner’s report as “suddenly, syncope caused by heart failure due to fatty degeneration of the heart; natural causes.”
The London Gazette of 30th July, 1920, page 8019, contained the following notice:
Curiously, no “Norfolk Road” as such is listed in Brighton in the 1915 Sussex directory.
Chess
He attended the annual meetings of the West Yorkshire Chess Association in 1859, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1877 and 1878.
He was a representative of the Bradford club in its match against Settle in 1859.
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Created 25/04/2012 |
Copyright © 2012 Stephen John Mann Census information is copyright of The National Archive, see UK Census Information |
Last Updated 25/04/2012 |