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William Playfair (1759-1823): Inventor and Ardent Advocate of Statistical Graphics

Author(s):
Spence, Ian; Wainer, Howard
Publication Year:
1996
Report Number:
RM-96-11
Source:
ETS Research Memorandum
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
9
Subject/Key Words:
Graphics, Playfair, William, Statistics

Abstract

William Playfair, an 18th century Scot, through his invention and popularization of statistical graphics had a profound influence on the way that science is practiced. In this biographical essay we tell of some of the key events in his life and suggest how those events relate to the circumstances that allowed him, rather than someone else to go against the contemporary intellectual winds and invent graphics.

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