Paul Rudolf von Bilguer

Paul Rudolf (or Rudolph) von Bilguer (21 September 1815 – 16 September 1840) was a German chess master and chess theoretician from Ludwigslust in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

To the modern chess world he is known above all as the co-author of the Handbuch des Schachspiels. He died very young, before finishing the Handbuch, but the work was completed by his friend Tassilo von Heydebrand und der Lasa. The Handbuch was for many years considered the definitive reference work on the game of chess in general, and on openings in particular. It was a precursor to later standard opening reference works such as Modern Chess Openings and Encyclopedia of Chess Openings.