John Playfair
From BiblePortal Wikipedia
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [1]
an eminent scientist, was born, in 1749, at Dundee; was educated at St. Andrew's; resigned a living, and became mathematical professor at Edinburgh, where he died July 20,1819. Playfair was celebrated as a geologist, and a strenuous defender of the Huttonian system. Among his works are, Elements of Geometry: — Outlines of Philosophy: — Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory: — and A System of Geography.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [2]
Scotch mathematician, born at Benvie; bred for the Church, became professor first of Mathematics and then of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh University; wrote on geometry and geology, in the latter supported the Huttonian theory of the earth (1748-1819).