John Playfair

John Playfair (March 10, 1748 – July 20, 1819) was a Scottish scientist.

Early life

Born at Benvie, Forfarshire, where his father was parish minister, he was educated at home until the age of fourteen, when he entered the university of St Andrews. In 1766, when only eighteen, he was candidate for the chair of mathematics in Marischal College, Aberdeen, and, although he was unsuccessful, his claims were admitted to be high.

Related Topics:
Benvie - Forfarshire - Parish - Minister - University of St Andrews - 1766 - Marischal College - Aberdeen

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Six years later he made application for the chair of natural philosophy in his own university, but again without success, and in 1773 he was offered and accepted the benefice of the united parishes of Liff and Benvie, vacant by the death of his father. He continued, however, to carry on his mathematical and physical studies, and in 1782 he resigned his charge in order to become the tutor of Ferguson of Raith. By this arrangement he was able to be frequently in Edinburgh and to cultivate the literary and scientific society for which it was at that time specially distinguished. Through Nevil Maskelyne, whose acquaintance he had first made in the course of the celebrated Schiehallion experiments in 1774, he also gained access to the scientific circles of London. In 1785 when Dugald Stewart succeeded Ferguson in the Edinburgh chair of moral philosophy, Playfair succeeded the former in that of mathematics.

Related Topics:
1773 - Benefice - Liff - 1782 - Ferguson of Raith - Edinburgh - Nevil Maskelyne - Schiehallion - 1774 - London - 1785 - Dugald Stewart - Moral philosophy

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