Modern English biography

scriptures_, _10 ed. iv_ 317–20, 733 (1856); _G.M. Dec. 1852 p._ 660. PLAYER, JOHN. _b._ Elberton, Gloucs. 1808; manager of Gwendraeth iron works 1838; introduced anthracite as a fuel for blast furnaces and steam boilers; a steamer called the Anthracite ran for some time on the Thames below London bridge 1839, which attracted much notice; built many blast furnaces; settled at Philadelphia 1868; invented ‘mineral wool’ from iron slag. _d._ Philadelphia 11 March 1870. PLAYFAIR, GEORGE RANKEN (son of George Playfair). Educ. at Edinburgh univ.; M.D. 1838; surgeon in navy of H.E.I.C.S. and saw service in the Phlegthan during the first China war 1840; assistant surgeon Bengal 3 Nov. 1844; civil surgeon at Jaharunpore, where he gained experience as a lithotomist; on the Agra circle, present at siege of Lucknow 1857; inspector general 29 March 1871; retired surgeon general Bengal 31 March 1872; wrote on Continued fever. _d._ Longridge road, South Kensington, London 4 Oct. 1881. _Lancet 8 Oct. 1881 p._ 651, _15 Oct. p._ 689. PLAYFAIR, SIR HUGH LYON (3 son of James Playfair 1738–1819, principal of St. Andrew’s univ.) _b._ Meigle, East Perthshire 17 Nov. 1786; educ. Dundee gr. sch. and St. Andrew’s univ.; lieut. Bengal artillery 14 May 1805; adjutant and quartermaster of the horse artillery 15 Nov. 1809, at siege of fortress of Ralunga Nov. 1814, captain 5 Oct. 1815; granted freedom of city of St. Andrew’s 1820; superintendent of the great military road, telegraph towers and post office department between Calcutta and Benares 1820–7; major in command of the fourth battalion of artillery at Dum-Dum June 1827 to 4 July 1831, resigned the service 10 Feb. 1834; provost of St. Andrew’s 1842 to death; established a public library and revived the celebrated St. Andrew’s golf club 1834; his portrait by sir J. W. Gordon placed in the old town hall 1847; LL.D. St. Andrew’s 1856; knighted at St. James’s palace 12 March 1856; author of First catechism of the principles of religion 1853. _d._ St. Leonard’s, St. Andrew’s 21 Jany. 1861. _D. Louden’s Biographical sketch of sir H. L. Playfair_ (1874); _Memoirs of sir H. L. Playfair_ (1861) _portrait_; _I.L.N. x_ 176 (1847) _portrait_, _xxxviii_ 103 (1861). PLAYFAIR, WILLIAM HENRY (son of James Playfair of London, architect). _b._ Russel sq. London July 1789; pupil of Wm. Starke of Glasgow, architect; architect in Edinburgh 1812 to death; laid out part of the new town 1815; rebuilt and enlarged the university buildings 1817–24; designed the Royal and Regent terraces 1829; designed the observatory 1814–18, advocates’ library 1819, royal institution 1822–36, college of surgeons 1830, St. Stephen’s church 1826–8, and the Free church college 1846–50; constructed Donaldson’s hospital in the Tudor style 1842–8; designed the monument to his uncle professor John Playfair 1820, and that to Dugald Stewart on the Calton hill 1830; designed the National gallery of Scotland in the classical style, first stone laid 30 Aug. 1850, and the unfinished national monument on the Calton Hill 1822–6; his classical buildings have gained for Edinburgh the sobriquet of the ‘Modern Athens’; built many country houses and mansions; author of Report concerning completion of the college of Edinburgh 1816; Report on laying out the new town between Edinburgh and Leith