Education
He studied at first for the medical profession, and afterwards entered the service of the Prussian army.
He studied at first for the medical profession, and afterwards entered the service of the Prussian army.
Born at Königsberg, in East Prussia, he learned chess at the age of 12, and six years afterwards, he was president of the Königsberg Chess Club. He came to the United States in the November 1851 aboard the ship Henry Clay, and at first devoted nearly all his time to his mercantile wholesale business. Then in 1856, he joined the New York Chess Club and soon became its strongest member.
Lichtenhein was elected the New York Central Committee"s president in 1858.
He served as a Major in the 58th Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Civil War, acting also as a correspondent for Frank Leslies" Illustrated Newspaper.