John Playfair
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Summary
John Playfair was born on March 10, 1748[1], in Dundee[2]. He died on July 20, 1819[3], in Burntisland[4]. He worked as a mathematician[5], geologist[6], physicist[7], and naturalist[8]. He ranks in the top 0.72% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (973 views/month, #7,238 of 1,000,298).[9]
Key Facts
- Place of burial: Old Calton Burial Ground[10]
- Country of citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[11]
- Field of work: mathematics[12]
- Position held: professor[13], parson[14]
- Employer: University of Edinburgh[15], Adam Ferguson[16]
- Educated at: University of St Andrews[17], St Mary's College, St Andrews[18]
- Student: John Leslie[19]
- Notable work: XIII. Remarks on the Astronomy of the Brahmins[20], Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth[21], Playfair's axiom[22]
- Award received: Fellow of the Royal Society[23], Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh[24]
- Member of: Royal Society[25], Royal Society of Edinburgh[26]
- Influenced by: James Hutton[27]
- Sex or gender: male[28]
- Doctoral student: John Leslie[29]
- Commons category: John Playfair[30]
- Family name: Playfair[31]
- Given name: John[32]
- Depicted by: John Playfair[33]
- Described by source: Nordisk familjebok[34], Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900[35], BEIC Digital Library[36], The Nuttall Encyclopædia[37], Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition[38]
- Languages spoken, written or signed: English[39]
- Different from: John H. L. Playfair[40]
Body
Works and Contributions
Things named for John Playfair include Playfair's axiom[41], an axiom[42]; Playfair[43], an impact crater[44]; playfairite[45], a mineral species[46]; and Playfair Mountains[47], a mountain range[48].
Why It Matters
John Playfair has Wikipedia articles in 19 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[49] He is known by 10 alternative names across languages and contexts.[50]
Entities named for him include Playfair's axiom[41], an axiom[42]; Playfair[43], an impact crater[44]; playfairite[45], a mineral species[46]; and Playfair Mountains[47], a mountain range[48].
His notable doctoral advisees include John Leslie[51], a linguist[52], 1766–1832[53], of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[54], awarded the Rumford Medal[55].
FAQs
Where was John Playfair born?
John Playfair was born in Dundee[2].
Where did John Playfair die?
John Playfair died in Burntisland[4].
What did John Playfair do for work?
John Playfair worked as a mathematician[5], geologist[6], physicist[7], and naturalist[8].
Where did John Playfair go to school?
John Playfair was educated at University of St Andrews[17] and St Mary's College, St Andrews[18].
What awards did John Playfair receive?
Honors received include Fellow of the Royal Society[23] and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh[24].