Harry Nelson Pillsbury (born 5. 12.1872 in Somerville, Massachusetts; died 17. June 1906 in Philadelphia). Pillsbury learned to play chess at the age of 16 and belonged to the Boston Deschapelles Chess Club. By his early 20s, he was already one of the best players in the USA. In 1895, Pillsbury won the world-class tournament in Hastings. Until his death in 1906, Pillsbury was one of the world's best players and caused a great stir with blindsimultan world records against 20 or more opponents.
For a time, Pillsbury was the hidden player in the Ajeeb, the American version of the Chess Turk. He died as a result of syphilis, which he probably contracted during the Petersburg tournament in 1896.
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