Louisa Matilda Fagan

     Louisa Matilda Fagan (nee Ballard) (January 9, 1850 - August 22, 1931) was an Italian-born British female player who was one of the founding members of the Ladies' Chess Club of London, which boasted 100 members at its peak and lasted until after World War I. She finished in 2nd place behind Mary Rudge in the first Ladies’ International Congress held at the club in London from June 22 to July 3, 1897. 

     She learned to play chess as a child from her father and was the younger sister of Dr. William Robert Ballard, a strong London chess player in the late 19th, early 20th century. 

     Miss Ballard eventually married an Irishman, J.G. Fagan who was an officer with the Bombay Lancers. As a result, the Fagans lived for a period of time in India where Mrs. Fagan was part of the chess scene. Some of her chess problems were published in The City of London Chess Magazine. Mrs. Fagan was an emancipation activist and was heavily involved in British politcs. 

     An excellent 7-part series on her appeared on the blog Lost On Time several years ago and you can begin her story HERE. Worth reading!