Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
(1818-1898), Chemist, scientific adviser and Scottish politician; MPSitter in 16 portraits
Playfair studied medicine in Scotland and chemistry in Giessen, where he made his name under the renowned chemist 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 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 education and encouraging industry to make use of scientific advances.
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by John Haslem
enamel on metal, 1854
NPG 5216
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Maull & Polyblank
albumen print, arched top, 1855
NPG P120(7)
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Lock & Whitfield, published by Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington
woodburytype, published 1877
NPG Ax17525
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Lock & Whitfield
woodburytype, 1877 or before
NPG x133395
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1883
NPG x96522
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1883
NPG x96523
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1883
NPG x96524
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1883
NPG x96525
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Herbert Rose Barraud, published by Eglington & Co
carbon print, published 1891
NPG Ax5518
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1892
NPG Ax16010
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Thomas Herbert Maguire, printed by M & N Hanhart
lithograph, 1851
NPG D40268
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Thomas Herbert Maguire, printed by M & N Hanhart
lithograph, 1851
NPG D40269
The Funeral Procession of Arthur, Duke of Wellington
by Samuel Henry Gordon Alken, and by George Augustus Sala, published by Ackermann & Co
hand coloured etching and aquatint, 1 March 1853
NPG D42981
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair ('Statesmen. No.195.')
by Carlo Pellegrini
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 20 February 1875
NPG D43680
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by William Brassey Hole
etching, published 1884
NPG D40270
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
by Unknown photographer
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax38778
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