English chemist and Liberal party politician.

Playfair studied medicine in Scotland and chemistry in Giessen, where he made his name under Justus von Liebig. He went on to become a professor of chemistry in London, and later Edinburgh.

In 1868 Playfair was elected to parliament, starting a long career of sterling work on government committees, including public health, the Irish potato famine and the reform of the Civil Service. He was Prince Albert's chief adviser on the Great Exhibition of 1851 and helped to establish the Royal College of Science and South Kensington Museum.

Playfair spent his life fulfilling the role of a government scientist, promoting scientific and technical education and encouraging industry to make use of scientific advances.