Richard Griffith

Griffith, Richard (?1704-1788), playwright. Born in Dublin and educated at TCD. His works include The Triumvirate (1764), a bawdy novel, and Variety (1782), a comedy performed at Drury Lane. Griffith collaborated successfully with his wife Elizabeth in A Series of Genuine Letters between Henry and Frances (1757), a novel derived from their amorous correspondence. Two sequels, Delicate Distress (1769) by ‘Frances’ and The Gordian Knot (1770) by ‘Henry’, were written independently. A son, Richard (d. 1820), was a member of the Irish Parliament, while his son, Sir Richard Griffith (1784-1878), devised ‘Griffith's valuation’, the system adopted for rating agricultural property. On ‘Henry’ and ‘Frances’, see Escape from the Anthill (1985) by Hubert Butler, who inherited their house at Bennetsbridge.

For the Confederate general, see Richard Griffith (general). For the English actor, see Richard Griffiths.

Richard Clewin Griffith (22 July 1872, London – 11 December 1955, Hendon, London) was a British chess player, author and editor. He was educated at Charterhouse School.

He won the British Chess Championship in 1912 at Richmond, at his only appearance in the event. Also in 1912, he was the original co-author with John Herbert White of the famous chess book, Modern Chess Openings, which has gone into many editions up to the present day.

He was the editor of the British Chess Magazine, 1920–1937 and again for some months in 1940.

During World War II Griffith was the honorary treasurer of the British Chess Federation, and a member of its council and executive.

By profession, he was a metallurgist for an assaying company.

References

• British Chess Magazine, passim, particularly obit., Jan 1956, pps27-28.
• The Times, 12 December 1955, page 13 - obituary

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