John Aikin
Encyclopedia
John Aikin was an English
doctor and writer.
, Unitarian divine, and received his elementary education at the Nonconformist academy at Warrington
, where his father was a tutor. He studied medicine at the university of Edinburgh
, and in London
under Dr. William Hunter
. He practised as a surgeon at Chester
and Warrington
. Finally, he went to Leiden, earned an M.D. (1780), and in 1784 established himself as a doctor in Great Yarmouth
.
In 1792, one of his pamphlets having given offence, he moved to London, where he practised as a consulting physician. However, he concerned himself more with the advocacy of liberty of conscience than with his professional duties, and he began at an early period to devote himself to literary pursuits, to which his contributions were incessant. When Richard Phillips
founded The Monthly Magazine
in 1796, Aikin was its first editor. In conjunction with his sister, Anna Laetitia Barbauld
, he published a popular series of volumes entitled Evenings at Home
(6 vols., 1792–1795), for elementary family reading, which were translated into almost every Europe
an language.
and Archbishop Usher (1812) and other works. Aside from editing The Monthly Magazine from 1796 to 1807, he conducted a paper called The Athenaeum from 1807 to 1809, when it was discontinued.
, was a prominent scientist and his daughter, Lucy Aikin
, was a biographer.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
doctor and writer.
Life
He was born at Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, England, son of Dr. John AikinJohn Aikin (Unitarian)
John Aikin was an English Unitarian scholar and theological tutor, closely associated with Warrington Academy, a prominent dissenting academy.-Life:...
, Unitarian divine, and received his elementary education at the Nonconformist academy at Warrington
Warrington Academy
Warrington Academy, active as a teaching establishment from 1756 to 1782, was a prominent dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by those who dissented from the state church in England...
, where his father was a tutor. He studied medicine at the university of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
under Dr. William Hunter
William Hunter (anatomist)
William Hunter FRS was a Scottish anatomist and physician. He was a leading teacher of anatomy, and the outstanding obstetrician of his day...
. He practised as a surgeon at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
. Finally, he went to Leiden, earned an M.D. (1780), and in 1784 established himself as a doctor in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
.
In 1792, one of his pamphlets having given offence, he moved to London, where he practised as a consulting physician. However, he concerned himself more with the advocacy of liberty of conscience than with his professional duties, and he began at an early period to devote himself to literary pursuits, to which his contributions were incessant. When Richard Phillips
Sir Richard Phillips
Sir Richard Phillips was an English schoolteacher, author and publisher.Phillips was born in London. Following some political difficulties in Leicester where he was a schoolteacher and bookseller, he returned to London, established premises in Paternoster Row, St. Paul's Churchyard, and founded...
founded The Monthly Magazine
Monthly Magazine (1796)
The Monthly Magazine of London "began publication in February 1796. Richard Phillips ... was the publisher and a contributor on political issues; the editor for the first 10 years was the literary Jack-of-all-trades, Dr...
in 1796, Aikin was its first editor. In conjunction with his sister, Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Anna Laetitia Barbauld
Anna Laetitia Barbauld was a prominent English poet, essayist, literary critic, editor, and children's author.A "woman of letters" who published in multiple genres, Barbauld had a successful writing career at a time when female professional writers were rare...
, he published a popular series of volumes entitled Evenings at Home
Evenings at Home
Evenings at Home, or The Juvenile Budget Opened is a collection of six volumes of stories written by John Aikin and his sister Anna Laetitia Barbauld. It is an early example of children's literature. The late Victorian children's writer Mary Louisa Molesworth named it as one of the handful of...
(6 vols., 1792–1795), for elementary family reading, which were translated into almost every Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an language.
Works
In 1798 Dr. Aikin retired from professional life and devoted himself with great industry to various literary undertakings, among which his General Biography (10 vols., 1799–1815) holds a conspicuous place. Besides these, he published Biog. Memoirs of Medicine (1780), Lives of John SeldenJohn Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
and Archbishop Usher (1812) and other works. Aside from editing The Monthly Magazine from 1796 to 1807, he conducted a paper called The Athenaeum from 1807 to 1809, when it was discontinued.
Family
His son, Arthur AikinArthur Aikin
Arthur Aikin , English chemist, mineralogist and scientific writer, was born in Warrington, Lancashire into a distinguished literary family of prominent Unitarians....
, was a prominent scientist and his daughter, Lucy Aikin
Lucy Aikin
Lucy Aikin , born at Warrington, England into a distinguished literary family of prominent Unitarians, was a historical writer.-Family and education:...
, was a biographer.