John Macfie

12 September 1826, Greenock ─ 6 July 1896, Edinburgh

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John Macfie, whose business interested were in sugar refining, was an important member of Edinburgh Chess Club, which he joined in 1861 (as did his brother Claude), but he was also involved with chess at a national level.

He was a member of the local organising committee for the great Dundee 1867 tournament, which included Steinitz and Neumann. (1)

He was president of Edinburgh CC in season 1870-71, and he presented the club with what became known as the Macfie Chessmen, to be used as one of the prizes in the annual club championship tournaments. (2)

John Macfie represented the East of Scotland in matches against the West in 1871, 1872, 1876, 1880, 1881, and 1882.

Mr Macfie played in the Major tournament of the 1885 Scottish Chess Association Congress, but without success. In the 1887 Congress he played in the Minor event, winning =2nd place with 8½/11. He features in the group photograph.

He also played in the Minor section at the 1889 Congress. At the AGM of the 1890 Congress, John Macfie was appointed as one of the Directors of the Scottish Chess Association.

Mr MacFie died at his home, 14 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh, on 6 July 1896.

NOTE
We were contacted by Michael T. Tracy, who is related to John Goodsir (1814-1867), Professor of Anatomy at the University of Edinburgh.

Mr Tracy is researching the lives of students who attended the anatomy classes of Professor Goodsir. He has kindly provided a paper he has written about John Macfie, who was one of those students.

Sources
(1) The Chess Player's Magazine, 1 August 1867, page 252.
(2) An early reference to these chessmen is the chess column of the Glasgow Weekly Herald, 26 April 1873.

Alan McGowan

Added 24/10/2026