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Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair

(1818-1898), Chemist, scientific adviser and Scottish politician; MP

Sitter 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.

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Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair, by Lock & Whitfield, published by  Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington - NPG Ax17525

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 Herbert Rose Barraud, published by  Eglington & Co - NPG Ax5518

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 - NPG Ax16010

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 - NPG D40268

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 - NPG D40269

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 - NPG D42981

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 - NPG D43680

Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair ('Statesmen. No.195.')

by Carlo Pellegrini
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 20 February 1875
NPG D43680

Web image not currently available

Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair

by Unknown photographer
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG Ax38778

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