Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

OLD C ALTON BURIAL-GROUiSID. 95
tlie memory of Dr. George Wilson, Professor of Teclmology in the
University of Edinburgh and Director of the Industrial Museum of
Scotland. This eminent philosopher was born at Edinburgh on the
21st February, 1818. Having studied at the University of Edin-
burgh, and University College, London, he became Surgeon in
1837, and M.D. in 1839. For many years he delivered chemical
lectures at Edinburgh in the Extra Academical School. In 1855
he was appointed Professor. He died on the 22nd November,
1859, at the age of forty-one. Dr. George Wilson's more esteemed
works are his " Text-book of Chemistry," " Eesearches on Colour
Blindness," " The Five Gateways of Knowledge," and his memoirs
of John Pteid, M.D., and Edward Forbes.
Professor John Playfair, whose monument on the Calton Hill
has already been noticed, was interred in this churchyard. This
celebrated mathematician was born at Benvie, Forfarshire, on the
10th jMarch, 1748. In his eighteenth year he became candidate
for the Professorship of Mathematics in Marischal College, Aber-
deen, and though unsuccessful, highly distinguished himself in a
public competition. In 1773 he was ordained minister of Liff and
Benvie in succession to his father. This charge he resigned in
1782 to become tutor in the family of Ferguson of Ptaith. In 1785
he was appointed joint Professor of Mathematics in the University
of Edinburgh, a chair which he exchanged for that of Natural
Philosophy in 1805. He died on the 19th July, 1819, in his
seventy-second year. His principal works are "Elements of
Geometry," " Outlines of Natural Philosophy," and " Illustrations
of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth."
Among the other notable persons commemorated in Old Calton
burial-ground are the following : — Thomas Hamilton, Architect of
the High School, Edinburgh ; the Picv. Thomas Thomson, minister
of the Pielief congregation, James Place, Edinburgh, died 16th
April, 1819; Major Archibald Argyle Campbell of the 42nd
Eegiment, died 27th January, 1809 ; John Carruthers of Holmains,
died 20th October, 1809 ; Eobert Spottiswood, a field officer in the
service of the East India Company, died 31st August, 1828; John