Quite a few historical figures enjoyed playing bridge. For example Napoleon loved the game of whist* and played it with his British "escorts" on his way to exile on the island of St. Helena**. George Washington was also a whist player and played the game as often as he could.*** A member of Gen. Ike's staff was a member of Gen. Ike's staff simply because he was very skillful at bridge and Ike wanted a good partner***.

* Whist is an early form of bridge.

** From "NAPOLEON - A Life" by Andrew Roberts. I don't remember the page.

*** From "The Great Upheaval" by Jay Winnick. I don't remember the page

**** I don't remember where I read that. Maybe the "Bridge Bulletin".