George Atherton Aitken CB, MVO (1860–1917) was a British

civil servant The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...

, author, scholar, a literary biographer and a book collector. During his lifetime, Aitken became an expert on the Queen Anne period of

English literature English literature is literature written in the English language from United Kingdom, its crown dependencies, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire. ''The Encyclopaedia Britannica'' defines E ...

Public service

Aitken completed his studies at University College, London with a degree in English. He entered the Civil Service in 1883, taking up a position within the Secretary's Office of the

General Post Office The General Post Office (GPO) was the state postal system and telecommunications carrier of the United Kingdom until 1969. Before the Acts of Union 1707, it was the postal system of the Kingdom of England, established by Charles II in 1660. ...

. He benefited on a personal level from the reforms during this time within the postal system, which included the provision of a private library and reading room for its employees to encourage intellectual development. He published his first book in 1889. Aitken transferred to the Home Office in 1892. He was responsible for legislation that brought about improvements to Child Welfare, working under the future Home Office Secretary, Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel. The passing of the

Children Act 1908 The Children Act 1908, also known as the Children and Young Persons Act 1908, passed by the Liberal government, as part of the British Liberal Party's liberal reforms package. The Act was informally known as the Children's Charter and largely su ...

, consolidated and simplified existing legislation on child welfare and, most significantly, created a juvenile justice system. Aitken was recognised in his profession as a career civil servant, receiving a number of promotions, where he eventually was elevated to the position of Assistant Secretary, becoming the first Head of the Children's Department at the Home Office in 1913. For his efforts in children's education, he was honored as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1911 and as a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...

(CB) in 1917.

Author and biographer

Aitken was an author and a literary biographer. He was also an editor and an “author of introduction” of numerous works from numerous celebrated writers.

Published works (in chronological order)

* ''The life of Richard Steele'' (1889) - published by William Isbister Ltd * ''The life and works of John Arbuthnot, M.D., fellow of the Royal College of Physicians'' (1892) * ''The poetic works of Robert Burns'' (1893) * ''Later Stuart tracts'' (1903)

Notable Contribution

* ''The manuscripts of the Duke of Beaufort, K.G., the earl of Donoughmore, and others.''

Contribution to the Dictionary of National Biography

Between 1885 and 1900, Aitken wrote numerous biographical articles for the

Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

. His articles are designated by the initials "G.A.A." Aitken features prominently within the list of contributors.

Collector of books and manuscripts

During his lifetime he gathered an extensive collection of rare manuscripts and books, including multiple copies of each edition of the works of

Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer (; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for ''The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He wa ...

, which were printed between 1532 and 1602.

Academic contribution

Aitken served as a Governor of University College, London.

Legacy

An inventory of his book collection is held at the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Texas. Part of the University of Texas, it is currently recognised as having the largest collection of early printed editions of Geoffrey Chaucer. At least 17 editions formed part of the Aitken's own collection. The Folger Shakespeare Library holds a signed letter from him to Augustin Daly dated 19 February 1894.

Personal

Aitken was born on 19 March 1860 in Barkingside, Essex. The son of John Aitken and Mary Ann Salmon. He had no siblings. At the age of 43, he married Emma Cawthorne on 18 April 1903, two years his senior. His wife was a former headmistress at Coborn School. He had no children. Aitken died in

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, and extends from Watling Street, the A5 road (Roman Watling Street) to Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. The area forms the northwest part of the Lon ...

, North London at the age of 57 on 16 November 1917. He is buried at

St John-at-Hampstead St John-at-Hampstead is a Church of England parish church dedicated to St John the Evangelist (though the original dedication was only refined from St John to this in 1917 by the Bishop of London) in Church Row, Hampstead, London. History H ...

Churchyard.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aitken, George A. 1860 births 1917 deaths 19th-century British writers Companions of the Order of the Bath Members of the Royal Victorian Order People associated with University College London