Michael Phelan

Michael Phelan (April 18, 1819 – October 7, 1871) was an Irish-born American billiards player, manufacturer and owner of billiard parlors. He was the first billiards star in the US. In 1850, he published Billiards Without A Master, the first book published in the US on the science, etiquette, and game rules of billiards.

Early years

Phelan was born in Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1819 (some records say 1816). His father emigrated to the US that same year, and established himself in the billiard business, running as many as three or four rooms in different parts of New York City at the same time. With much success and liking the country, in 1823, the father sent for his family in Ireland. Phelan remembered his arrival to the US, as well as the billiard table in one of his father's rooms, and how captivated he was when allowed to shove the balls around with the mace; and thus he dated his billiard experience from that time.[1] He was not allowed to use the cue until he was 15, and then, almost immediately, became a good player.[1]

Career

His father apprenticed Phelan to learn a trade, manufacturing jewelry. But after attaining the age of majority, and having married (circa 1837), Phelan was determined to adopt the billiards business for a livelihood. As his father had previously died, Phelan became an attendant at a billiard room. By 1850, Phelan had come to be looked upon as the most expert and scientific player in the country; and in the same year he prepared a work entitled "Billiards Without a Master," which enjoyed a large sale,[1] and was the first book published in the US on the science, etiquette, and game rules of billiards.[2]

Historic print depicting Michael Phelan's Billiard Saloon located at the corner of 10th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, January 1, 1859
Man playing billiards with a cue and a woman with a mace, from an illustration appearing in Michael Phelan's 1859 book, The Game of Billiards
Illustration from Michael Phelan's 1859 book, The Game of Billiards

Phelan was determined to produce an American billiard table that would become the standard model for the whole world. He visited Europe in the fall of 1851, and on his return, in 1852, he had the idea of starting a model billiard-table factory. He left the East Coast in the fall of 1854, and arrived in San Francisco, where he opened an elegant billiard hall which immediately became one of the chief points of interest of the city. Phelan continued his success as a player and was again pronounced unconquerable.[1] In 1854, he invented a new cushion, which was noted for its elastic and lasting qualities.[3] To assist with aim, he added diamonds to the table.[4] Tobias O'Connor and Hugh William Collender manufactured some of the first tables as part of a distinct business, and, in 1854, Phelan gained an interest in the manufacturing business, with the company name changed to Phelan & Collender.[5] On April 12, 1859, Phelan won the first U.S. national billiards championship.[6][7] The company was dissolved by Collender in 1871 after Phelan's death.[8]

Phelan died in 1871. Billiards player, manufacturer and owner of billiard parlors,[9] Phelan was the first billiards star in the US.[10] He was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 1993.[11]

Personal life

Phelan owned a summer home at Locust Point, Shrewsbury River. He was married to Ann, and they had two daughters, Julia, who married Collender, and Maggie,[12] as well as one son, George, who had been a member of Phelan & Collender.[8] Phelan is buried at Calvary Cemetery.[13]

Selected works

References

  1. ^ a b c d Horace Greeley (1872). The Great Industries of the United States: Being an Historical Summary of the Origin, Growth, and Perfection of the Chief Industrial Arts of this Country (Public domain ed.). J. B. Burr & Hyde. p. 402.
  2. ^ "1850". Chicago Billiard Museum. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Selim Hobart Peabody; Charles Francis Richardson (1892). The International Cyclopedia: A Compendium of Human Knowledge (Public domain ed.). Dodd, Mead. p. 538.
  4. ^ Billiard Congress (January 1, 1998). Billiards: The Official Rules & Records. Billiard Congress of America. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-878493-08-8.
  5. ^ Depew, Chauncey Mitchell (1895). 1795–1895: One Hundred Years of American Commerce ... a History of American Commerce by One Hundred Americans, with a Chronological Table of the Important Events of American Commerce and Invention Within the Past One Hundred Years (Public domain ed.). D. O. Haynes & Company. p. 655.
  6. ^ Bak, Richard (May 30, 2012). "A look at the Detroit sports scene in 1859". Vintage Detroit Collection Blog. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021. On April 12, 1859, the city hosted the first national championship billiard match, with Michael Phelan of New York defeating local favorite John Seereiter for the [US$15,000 (equivalent to $488,600 in 2022)] top prize—a wagonload of money at a time when even skilled tradesmen often made only a few hundred dollars a year.
  7. ^ "The Great Billard Match In Detroit". Sacramento Daily Union. Vol. 17, no. 2536. May 13, 1859. p. 4 col. 5. Retrieved February 21, 2021 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  8. ^ a b U. S. Supreme Court (1874). Supreme Court, First Department (Public domain ed.). U. S. Supreme Court. p. 161.
  9. ^ Kenneth T. Jackson; Lisa Keller; Nancy Flood (December 1, 2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press. pp. 639–. ISBN 978-0-300-18257-6.
  10. ^ Patrick R. Redmond (January 27, 2014). The Irish and the Making of American Sport, 1835–1920. McFarland. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-0-7864-7553-7.
  11. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees: 1992–1996". Billiard Congress of America. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  12. ^ Supreme Court. p. 4.
  13. ^ "A Noted Billiard Match" (PDF). The New York Times. September 4, 1887. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
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