William R. Playfair

William R. Playfair was a Scottish engineer and economist, born in 1759, known for pioneering the use of graphs and charts to present statistical data. He introduced innovative visual representations like line graphs, bar charts, and pie charts, making complex information more accessible. His work included important contributions to economics, notably in his books on trade and finance. Playfair's techniques transformed the way data is visualized, laying the groundwork for modern data analysis and statistics, helping people understand trends and relationships in numbers more intuitively. He died in 1823, leaving a lasting legacy in visual communication and economics.