William Norwood Potter never played chess outside London, yet he must be considered a key figure in the development of 19th century chess. His play was surprisingly modern, while his writings are still a model of style, sense and competence. John Wisker was an amateur chess player who achieved excellent results among the few professionals of his time. He was recognized as the first British chess champion and had a prolific journalistic career. He spent the last seven years of his life in Australia, where he played an important role in a blossoming chess culture. This volume, besides retrieving lost particulars of their lives, contains all their known games and many passages of their prose. Among the book's appendices is coverage of the eventful life and brilliant games of William John Wilson.