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Andrew Hunter
10 July 1843, New Deer, SCO ─ 15 November 1907, Bournemouth, ENG
Member and office-bearer of Glasgow Chess Club and the Scottish Chess Association
Glasgow CC club champion 1876
Outright holder of the 1st West of Scotland Challenge Cup
Associated with the British and Metropolitan CCs, London
Andrew Hunter was a somewhat significant figure in Scottish and London chess circles, but detailed personal information about him has not previously been recorded; his death was not noted in the British Chess Magazine, nor was he mentioned in Jeremy Gaige's 1987 publication Chess Personalia.
In January 1877 Hunter, for the third time, captured the West of Scotland Challenge Cup. Two years later, undefeated, and according to the rules at the time, the cup became his own property (nobody challenged him in the second year).
The cup was presented to him on Saturday, 22 February 1879 at a meeting of Glasgow Chess Club, and on Friday, 28 February, he was entertained to dinner in the Cobden Hotel, Glasgow by his friends, on the occasion of him leaving Glasgow for London. It is this dinner that provided an important clue that helped provide further information about him.
The Glasgow Weekly Herald chess column of 8 March 1879 reported the occasion in detail. The column was edited by John Jenkin, the then vice-president of Glasgow Chess Club, who attended the dinner.
Hunter replied to the toast made to him by the evening's Chairman, his remarks including the following comments:-
I have to-day received at the hands of my fellow-associates in Messrs Charles Tennant & Co's a very substantial token of their respect...
Charles Tennant & Co., originally founded in 1797, later became the largest chemical works in the world. A major part of its work was based at St Rollox, Glasgow and its products were sold worldwide.
Andrew Hunter had been employed by the company for several years, as he appears in the 1876-77 Glasgow Post Office Directory under that company's name, at 115 St Vincent St., Glasgow. Based on official records in England after he moved there, it is likly that Hunter was a salesman or commission agent.
The 1881 census shows Andrew Hunter (37), Chemical Broker, born Scotland; he was a visitor at the home of the Bakewell family at 48 South Hill Park, Hampstead, London.
The 1891 census has Andrew Hunter (47), Phosphate Merchant, born Scotland; the family lived at 13 Sherriff Road, Hampstead, London.
The 1901 census has Andrew Hunter (57), Guano and Phosphate Agent, born Scotland, at 8 The Avenue, Willesden, Middlesex.
Hunter died suddenly at the Imperial Hotel, Bournemouth on 15 November 1907. He certainly made a success of himself as the Probate record shows his effects valued at £54,059 16s 9d.
At some point he had formed Andrew Hunter & Co., which was later changed to Hunter, Lomer & Fraser, and later again, after Hunter's death, to Lomer, Fraser & Co.
Working back from the 1879 reference to Hunter's employer, the following references seem to be relevant in identifying him:-
A newspaper report from 1878 shows an Andrew Hunter at the annual dinner of the Commercial Travellers' Society of Scotland (Glasgow Herald, 2 March 1878, p3).
The 1871 Scotland census shows Andrew Hunter (27), a Commercial Traveller, born New Deer, Aberdeenshire, at 72 Houston Street, Tradeston, Glasgow.
The 1861 Scotland census has Andrew Hunter (17), Commission Agent, born New Deer, Aberdeenshire, living at the United Presbyterian Manse at Savoch, Aberdeenshire (his father was the minister).
Some of Andrew Hunter's chess results can be found here.
Alan McGowan
Historian/Archivist, Chess Scotland
added 6/1/2023