Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair (20 February 1787 – 19 January 1861) was a Scottish politician, army officer and photographic pioneer.

He was born in Meigle in Perthshire the third son of Margaret Lyon and the Reverend James Playfair.

In March 1807 General Sir John Horsford placed him in charge of the troops at Bareilly and was required to suppress the robber-chief Tumon Singh in Oudh.

In November 1807 he was appointed in charge of the horse artillery in Agra and in 1809 undertook another long march to Saharunpoor.

Playfair took an interest in photography during its pioneer years and worked with Sir David Brewster to develop the calotype process.