Playfair's townhouse at 17 Great Stuart Street, EdinburghPlayfair's grave in Dean Cemetery, EdinburghStatue of William Henry Playfair, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
William Henry PlayfairFRSE (15 July 1790 – 19 March 1857) was a prominent Scottish architect in the 19th century who designed the Eastern, or Third,New Town and many of Edinburgh'sneoclassical landmarks.[1]
Playfair was born on 15 July 1790 inRussell Square,London to Jessie Graham andJames Playfair.[2][3] His father was also an architect, and his uncles were the mathematicianJohn Playfair andWilliam Playfair, an economist and pioneer ofstatistical graphics. After his father's death he was sent to Edinburgh to be educated by his uncle John Playfair. He went on to study at theUniversity of Edinburgh, graduating in 1809.[2] He was first articled to the architectWilliam Stark and when Stark died in 1813, he went to London.
In the 1830s Playfair is listed as living at 17 Great Stuart Street on the prestigious Moray Estate inEdinburgh's West End.[4] This is not a building of his own design, but is by his rivalJames Gillespie Graham.[5]
Playfair died in Edinburgh on 19 March 1857, and is buried in the "Lord's Row" on the western wall of Edinburgh'sDean Cemetery, where he designed monuments for others, includingLord Jeffrey.
1817 Appointed architect to complete design work on theOld College, University of Edinburgh, on the basis of his proposals to complete the plans originated byRobert Adam. The building was completed around 1831.
1818 Commissioned to designDollar Academy: the original building which he created is now known as thePlayfair Building[9]
1820 East New Town (Calton Hill), Edinburgh (includingRegent,Carlton andRoyal Terraces), built between 1821 and 1860
1821–24 Royal Terrace, East New Town, Edinburgh only completed in 1860
1822 Commissioned by the Institution for the Encouragement of Fine Arts in Scotland. The building was opened in 1826 and is now theRoyal Scottish Academy Building, Edinburgh
