Early life Evans was born at
St Dogwells,
Pembrokeshire,
Wales. He almost certainly went to Haverfordwest Grammar School, the only school in Pembrokeshire at that time. About the beginning of the century the family moved to Castle Pill, an inlet on the north side of
Milford Haven, just east of Milford town.
Early career Evans served at sea in the navy from 1804, when he was 14, until the
Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815. He was then transferred to the postal department. By 1819, he had reached the title of Captain of the sailing packet.
Inventions Evans invented tri-coloured lighting on naval vessels to prevent collisions at night. For this invention, the British government awarded him £1500 and a gold chronometer, while the Tsar of Russia gave him £200.
Chess player }} By 1818, he had learned the moves of chess. Around 1825–1826, on shore leave in London, Evans played
Alexander McDonnell, beating the latter with what is now regarded in chess circles as the first
Evans Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4). According to GM
Andrew Soltis, Evans was "the first player to be widely honored for an opening we
know he played". According to GM
Daniel Naroditsky, Evans was also the first player to play the
Danish Gambit.
Death He is buried at the Belgian port of
Ostend. ==Gallery==