Playfair was born on 15 July 1790 in Russell Square, London to Jessie Graham and James Playfair.
His father was also an architect, and his uncles were the mathematician John Playfair and William Playfair, an economist and pioneer of statistical graphics.
After his father's death he was sent to Edinburgh be educated by his uncle John Playfair.
He went on to study at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1809.
He was first articled to the architect William Stark but when Stark died in 1813, he went to London.

In the 1830s Playfair is listed as living at 17 Great Stuart Street on the prestigious Moray Estate in Edinburgh's west end.
Ironically, this is not a building of his own design, but is by his rival James Gillespie Graham.

Playfair joined the Free Church following the Disruption of 1843, losing his right to burial in the parish churchyard.

Playfair took David Cousin under his wing and was responsible for the latter part of his training.
Playfair was born on 15 July 1790 in Russell Square, London to Jessie Graham and James Playfair. His father was also an architect, and his uncles were the mathematician John Playfair and William Playfair, an economist and pioneer of statistical graphics. After his father's death he was sent to Edinburgh be educated by his uncle John Playfair. He went on to study at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1809. He was first articled to the architect William Stark but when Stark died in 1813, he went to London.
In the 1830s Playfair is listed as living at 17 Great Stuart Street on the prestigious Moray Estate in Edinburgh's west end. Ironically, this is not a building of his own design, but is by his rival James Gillespie Graham.
Playfair joined the Free Church following the Disruption of 1843, losing his right to burial in the parish churchyard.
Playfair took David Cousin under his wing and was responsible for the latter part of his training.
William Henry Playfair