October 6th

Arthur Ford Mackenzie (06-10-1861 - 23-06-1905) Jamaican composer

Arthur Ford Mackenzie

Arthur Mackenzie lost his eyesight in 1896 but continued to compose chess problems. His 282 problems were compiled by A.C. White in "Chess Lyrics" in 1905: it was the first volume of the White Christmas series, which can be downloaded and read from here.
More details about this Jamaican citizen can be found on arthurfordmackenzie.20fr.com. He wrote and published in 1897 in Kingston the book "Chess: Its Poetry and Its Prose", as recalled Edward Winter in his Chess Notes.

His most famous problem may be this one:

Mackenzie, Arthur Ford
Sydney Morning Herald, 1905
1^st Prize

#2

12 + 11

Show Solution

1.Sa3! (2.Sc2#)

1...Kxe3+ 2.Se4#
1...Rh2/Re4 2.Re4#
1...Rd6+/Re7+ 2.c6#
1...Rxd5+ 2.Scb5#

White gives a flight and an additional check to Black. The battery mates that follow are spectacular.

Mackenzie, Arthur Ford
Bohemian Chess Club, 1877
1^st Prize

#3

10 + 10

Show Solution

1.Qh8-h3 ! (2.Qh3-f5 ~ 3.Sf6-g4#)

1...Kd4xc5 2.Sf6-d7+ Kc5xd6 3.Bg7-e5#
1...Kd4-e3 2.Sf6-d5+ 2...Ke3-f2, Ke3xe4 3.Bg7-d4, Qh3-h7#
1...g5-g4 2.Qh3-h6 (3.Rc5-d5#) 2...Kd4xc5 3.Sf6-d7#
1...f3-f2 2.Qh3xg3 (3.Rc5-d5/Qg3xf2/Qg3-c3#)

Bohemian mates.