Andrew Peebles Aitken FRSE FBSE (1843-1904) was a Scottish agricultural chemist remembered primarily for his research into fertiliser response times. He laid the foundations of modern understanding of increased crop yields through the use of artificial fertilisers.
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Life
He was born in Edinburgh on 30 April 1843, the son of John Aitken (1814-1886) a vet, and his wife, Mary Ann Smith (1819-1890), living at 142 Causewayside in the south of Edinburgh. His uncle Andrew M. Aitken was also a vet, operating from Marys Place in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. He studied at both Edinburgh University and the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He graduated MA in 1867 and BSc in 1871. He received a doctorate in Chemistry (DSc) in 1873).
His career began as assistant to Prof Alexander Crum Brown at Edinburgh University in 1875 he then moved to William Dick's Veterinary College as Professor of Chemistry and Toxicology. This was then based at 8 Clyde Street in the city centre. He also continued to lecture on Agricultural Chemistry at the university.
In 1878 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Alexander Crum Brown, Sir Thomas Richard Fraser, John Hutton Balfour and Andrew Douglas Maclagan. He was President of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 1895 to 1897.
He died at home, 38 Garscube Terrace in the Coltbridge district of Edinburgh on Sunday 17 April 1904.
Family
He was married to Georgiana Burnett Brown (1855-1922). They had three daughters, Katharine, Helen and Jessie.