Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais (1795–1840) (jan 1, 1795 – dec 13, 1840)

Description:

A French chess master, possibly the strongest player in the early 19th century.

He learned chess in 1814 and began to take the game seriously in 1818, regularly playing at the Café de la Régence.

Took part (and won) a famous set of matches against Alexander McDonnell in 1834.