The Spy, the Scoundrel, and the Chart Inventor: The Wild Life of William Playfair

William Playfair (1759-1823) lived a life filled with espionage, scandal, and debt, playing a role – often dubious – in pivotal historical events like the development of the steam engine, the French Revolution, and American independence. He was involved in the Scioto Company land scandal, a major early American controversy. Yet, his most enduring legacy lies not in intrigue but in invention: Playfair created the bar chart and pie chart, pioneering the use of line charts and fundamentally altering how we visualize data. His life, a blend of spy, scoundrel, and scholar, is ripe for a dramatic adaptation.