1748-1819

John Playfair was a Scottish scientist during the Scottish Enlightenment.

John Playfair was born on the 10th of March, 1748, in Benvie, Angus, Scotland. Until the age of fourteen he was home schooled by his parish minister father. He then enrolled at the University of St. Andrews, at which he studied mathematics and physics. After two unsuccessful, but highly praised, applications to become the chair of mathematics at the University of Aberdeen and later the chair of natural philosophy at the University of St. Andrews, he took charge of his father’s parish. In 1782, he became the tutor for Ferguson of Raith, which led him to mingle within the social circles of famous figures of the Scottish Enlightenment.

Whilst John Playfair was mingling with the likes of John Walker, he published his most famous work, “Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth”.

1799-1834

David Doulgas was a Scottish botanist.

David Douglas was born on the 25th of June, 1799, in Scone, Perth, Scotland. He received his initial education at the nearby Kinnoul School. Popular accounts state that David Douglas was often late to his lessons as he would detour on his way to school to pursue his own study of botany at nearby locations. At the age of eleven David Douglas left school and found employment at Scone Palace as an apprentice gardener. This position served David Douglas for seven years, where afterwards he further continued his education, so as to be fully able to understand the mathematics and other sciences behind plants.

David Douglas impressed a great many people throughout his education. This opened a opportunities for him, such as a botanical expedition to America. David Douglas returned from this expedition under great praise from all concerned. It has been recorded that David Douglas lived for the most of this expedition without a tent, providing his own food and sustenance. Further, he technically became the first recorded mountaineer in America when he decided to climb a mountain to obtain a better view of the surrounding area.

He died in 1834, in Hawaii, when he apparently fell into a pit trap and was further injured when a bull fell into the same trap. It was regarded as a suspicious death, as his coin-purse was missing.

1780-1847

Thomas Chalmers was a Scottish mathematician and leader of the Free Church of Scotland.

Thomas Chalmers was born in Anstruther, Fife, Scotalnd. He began attending the University of St. Andrews at the age of eleven, from the onset he was dedicated to the study of mathematics. By the age of 20 he was already licensed as a preacher. By the age of twenty three he had become a lecturer at the University of St Andrews. In 1832 this turned into the position of chair of Natural Philosophy, although he resigned from this position in 1838 when he was awarded a position as a professor of theology at the University of Edinburgh.

While being a renowned professor (reputedly having some of his mathematics lectures cancelled as the university council deemed that they caused too much commotion on campus), Thomas Chalmers was also a prominent church figure. The same year as he became the chair of Natural Philosophy at the University of St Andrews, he also became Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In later years he led almost a third of the ministers of the Church of Scotland to split from the church and establish the Free Church of Scotland.

1766-1832

John Leslie was a renowned Scottish mathematician and physicist during the Scottish Enlightenment.

John Leslie is best known for his work involving research on heat. His most famous experiment is known as the Leslie cube. In its original form the cube is painted black on one side, polished on two sides and a dull copper on the last side. This experiment is meant to show that heat radiation is the most significant on the black side.
In 1810, John Leslie was also the first person to artificially create ice through capillary action of an air pump.

John Leslie was born on the 10th of April 1766 in Largo, Fife in Scotland. He was raised and educated there for his early years. Due his natural aptitude in mathematics John Leslie was encouraged to attend the University of St Andrews. Until 1787 John Leslie studied Arts and divinity. After his graduation from both courses John Leslie spent time working as a private tutor and working on his first publication, “Natural History of Birds”, which was published in 1793 across nine volumes.

In 1805 John Leslie was he was elected to the chair of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh. While holding this position John Leslie published a number of new mathematics papers.

In 1819 John Leslie was promoted to the chair of natural philosophy. He kept this position until his death in 1832. While here he also made a number of contributions to the field of physics such as the differential thermometer.

John Walker was a renowned Scottish naturalist during the Scottish Enlightenment.

John Walker was in his time and is still a well known chemist, botanist and geologist, he was also a minister in the Church of Scotland, a founding member of the Royal Society of Scotland and he was elected a Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1790.

John Walker was born in 1730 in Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was a schoolmaster at the University of Edinburgh. This lead to John Walker pursuing a strong educational path. He embarked on a divinity degree in 1749. Upon completion, John Walker was ordained as a minister into the Church of Scotland. While studying and being a minister, John Walker also pursued a path in scientific research. This began with a natural philosophy course he undertook while at university. This interest in science led to John Walker joining the Edinburgh Philosophy Society and being a founder in the Royal Society of Scotland. He also published under the title of “Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London”, under the guidance of William Cullen.

In 1779 John Walker was appointed to the position of Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh. He maintained this position until his death in 1803.

See also: Famous Scots.