William Henry Playfair was a Scottish engineer and architect born in 1790. He is best known for his work in the field of civil engineering and for his contributions to the design of various structures in Edinburgh. Playfair was a key figure in the development of the Greek Revival architectural style in Scotland. In addition to his architectural achievements, Playfair was also an accomplished cartographer. He created detailed maps and plans that helped improve urban planning in Edinburgh and other areas. His work laid the foundation for modern city planning and influenced future generations of architects and engineers.