Henry William Birkmyre Gifford (born 1847, Australia – 12 April 1924, Kensington, London)[1][2] was an English chess master.[3]
Biographical information on Gifford is scarce.[4] He was the first unofficial Dutch Champion when shared he shared first place with Benjamin Willem Blijdenstein[5][6] (A. H. van Blijdenstein in other sources)[7][8] and won a play-off game against him at The Hague 1873.[9][10] He shared first with A. de Lelie at Amsterdam 1874 (NED-ch) but lost a play-off game to him,[11] and again won at Rotterdam 1875 (NED-ch).[12] On 18 June 1877, he married Eliza Goldsmid in London and then moved to France.[2]
He took 11th in the Paris 1878 chess tournament (Johannes Zukertort and Szymon Winawer won),[13] and tied for 5–6th at Paris 1881 (Edward Chamier won).[14]