James Playfair

James Playfair FRSE (1736–1819) was a Scottish minister, academic and author and a figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. Life He was born on 7 December 1736 at Knowhead of Bendochy (a farm) in Perthshire the son of George Playfair (d. 1786), a farmer, and his wife, Jean Roger (d. 1804). He studied at St Andrews University and then was ordained as minister of Newtyle (1770–77) and then translated to Meigle (1777–1800). He was then appointed Principal of St Andrews University in 1800. During this period he was also minister of St Leonard's Church in St Andrews.