Playfair, Hugh Lyon (1786-1861)

Born at Meigle, Perthshire. He was an army officer who served in India 1805-1817 and 1820-1834 and was Provost of St. Andrews from 1842 until his death. He is credited with modernising the town - establishing the public library, promoting the extension of the railway to the town and securing government grants to enable the university to carry out improvements. Playfair revived the golf club and was knighted in 1856. Along with David Brewster and John Adamson, he experimented with the calotype process. He was proficient in several musical instruments, which helps to explain why he chose to be portrayed in portraits with a cello.