John Playfair facts for kids

John Playfair
John Playfair ; FRS, FRSE
	John Playfair – Portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn
Born	10 March 1748; Benvie, Forfarshire, Scotland, UK
Died	20 July 1819 (aged 71); Burntisland, Fife, Scotland
Resting place	Old Calton Burial Ground
Nationality	Scottish
Alma mater	University of St Andrews
Known for	Playfair's axiom
	Scientific career
Fields	mathematics, natural philosophy, geology
Institutions	University of Edinburgh
Influences	James Hutton

Rev Prof John Playfair FRSE, FRS (10 March 1748 – 20 July 1819) was a Church of Scotland minister, remembered as a scientist and mathematician, and a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He is best known for his book Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth (1802). In 1783 he was a co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He served as General Secretary to the society 1798-1819.

Family

Playfair's brothers were architect James Playfair, solicitor Robert Playfair and engineer William Playfair. His nephew, William Henry Playfair (1790–1857) was an eminent architect in Scotland.

He died on 20 July 1819, and although an important man he was buried in an unmarked grave in Old Calton Burial Ground, on Waterloo Place in Edinburgh. His, and his brother, James's graves were marked by a plaque unveiled in 2011 following a local campaign. The monument to his memory by William Henry Playfair, on Calton Hill, is visible from the spot.

Honours

Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Fellow of the Royal Society of London, 1807
Craters on Mars and the Moon were named in his honour
The mineral playfairite was named in his honour.

Images for kids

Sir John Playfair by Sir Francis Chantrey
Memorial to John Playfair, Old Calton Burial Ground
Professor John Playfair Monument, Calton Hill, Edinburgh
Fellowship of the Royal Society is an award granted to individuals that have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science