François-André Danican Philidor

François-André Danican Philidor was born on 7 September 1726 in France, where he split his working life between two unlikely poles: composing opéra comique and playing chess at a level no one else could reach. His book Analyse du jeu des Échecs became the standard text on the game for over a hundred years, and the chess world named an opening, an endgame position, and a checkmate method in his honor. He helped shape early opéra comique even as his reputation at the board spread across Europe. He died on 31 August 1795, widely regarded as the best chess player of his age.