William Henry Playfair

1790-1857

Was born in London. His father was the Scottish architect James Playfair, and as a boy he moved to Edinburgh to live with his uncle, the scientist and mathematician, Professor John Playfair. Another of his uncles was the engineer and inventor of statistical graphics, William Playfair. After qualifying as an architect in Edinburgh, Playfair rapidly built a successful practice. In 1817 he won a competition to finish the work begun by Robert Adam designing the University of Edinburgh Old College, the resulting building emerging during the 1820s. But Playfair really came to prominence when he was commissioned in 1820 to design Regent Terrace, Royal Terrace and Calton Terrace in Edinburgh's New Town. Over the following thirty years he played an important part in designing many of the buildings that make Edinburgh the city it is today. These included the City Observatory on Calton Hill; the Royal Institution; the Monuments to Professor John Playfair (his uncle) and Dugald Stewart on Calton Hill; George Heriot's Hospital; the Advocates' Library; the Royal College of Surgeons; 105 George Street; Donaldson's Hospital; St Stephen's Church; Bonaly Tower; Free High Church and Free Church College; Royal Scottish Academy Building; New College, Edinburgh; and the National Gallery of Scotland, which was completed in 1850, two years after his death. He also designed the unfinished replica of the Parthenon on Calton Hill.