Playing chess by computer began in the early 1950s, nearly as soon as computers became available. The rules of play early intrigued computer scientists-MIT wrote the first chess program in 1957. Some programmers believe that work on computer chess led to important software techniques still in use today. The worldwide fascination for chess has been astonishing. It has been said that there is more literature devoted to chess than for all other games combined. Today, chess is played world wide with international appeal.

Here's my take on it:

Is Technology Wrecking Chess? - Associated Content

If I recall correctly, the first chess computer was invented either during the later years of WWII or in the early 1950's. Kongsted's book on Chess Computers has all the details on the history of chess computers - including an amusing section on 'bugs' that prevented some of the early computers from delivering checkmate when a one-move checkmate was possible in more than one way.

Computer Chess:
The Turk- 1770's- Edgar Allen Poe wrote that the The Turk was a fraud.
He figured out that there was a man inside the machine.
Alan Turing (English) and Claude Shannon (U.S.) developed theories of computation. From Computer History: They also considered chess an interesting puzzle that might help solve other problems and possibly advance the dream of building a machine that could think.
In 1947 Shannon developed two strategies for building search trees. Type A considered all possible moves to a fixed depth. Type B used chess knowledge to explore more promising lines to a greater depth. All chess software for two player games use one or the other tree.
There is a chess game on some websites that have a six by six square game, no Bishops. That game was one of the first computer chess games ever developed.
In the 70's & 80's one programmer indicated that Chess programs would never be strong because of cost.
Levy the Scottish grandmaster (?) put up $10,000 against any machine that could beat him. He pulled back the bet a few years later.
In a thread a few years back, the history of table chess computers and software was indicated. No need to repeat.
In the early Apple Computer there was Sargon, which was a fairly strong machine. Apple in the early 90's gave the program away with the purchase of a new computer. There was also Hyperchess, which worked with an early Macintosh Program called Hypercard. Hypercard was a program inside of a program.
PC computers had ChessGenius which came out in the 80's. The program is still around. See ChessGenius Classic 7.0 - The Chess Program that beat Kasparov!

Thanks for the information Malbase. I find it quite amusing that a large number of people thought 'The Turk' was a machine until Edgar worked out that the man was in 'the machine' making the moves!

Yeah cheers for the input Malbase also great chess
story, learn something new everyday i guess!