Charles Umpherston Aitchison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison
Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab
In office 3 April 1882 – 2 April 1887
Governor General	The Marquess of Ripon The Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Preceded by	Sir Robert Eyles Egerton
Succeeded by	Sir James Broadwood Lyall
Chief Commissioner of Burma
In office 30 March 1878 – 2 July 1880
Monarch	Victoria I
Preceded by	Sir Augustus Rivers Thompson
Succeeded by	Sir Charles Bernard
Personal details
Born	20 May 1832 Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Died	18 February 1896 (1896-02-19) (aged 63) Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Resting place	Wolvercote Cemetery, Oxford
Nationality	British
Spouse	Beatrice Lyell
Alma mater	University of Edinburgh
Occupation	Administrator

Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison KCSI CIE (born 20 May 1832 – died 18 February 1896) was an important Scottish administrator. He worked in British India, a large area once ruled by Britain. Sir Charles was the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, a major province. He is also famous for starting Aitchison College in Lahore in 1886. Before that, he was the Chief Commissioner of British Burma from 1878 to 1880.

Sir Charles Aitchison's Life

Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 20 May 1832. His father was Hugh Aitchison. Charles was a very bright student from a young age.

His Early Education

Charles went to the Royal High School in Edinburgh. After that, he studied at the University of Edinburgh. He earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1853. While at university, he learned about logic and philosophy. He even spent some time studying in Germany.

Starting Work in India

In 1855, Charles Aitchison did very well in a special exam. This exam was for people who wanted to join the Indian Civil Service. This was a group of British officials who helped run India. After studying law and languages in England for a year, he arrived in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1856.

His first job was in a place called Hissár. Soon after, he moved to the Punjab. This was just when the Indian Rebellion of 1857 began. Luckily, he avoided a dangerous event where Europeans were attacked in Hissár.

In the Punjab, he helped prevent rebels from crossing a river. He also wrote a book about the criminal law of the Punjab. During this time, he worked closely with Sir John Lawrence. Sir Charles learned a lot from him about how to govern. He later wrote a book about Sir John Lawrence.

Working for the Government of India

In 1859, Sir Charles joined the main government office in India. He worked as an assistant in the political department. He stayed there until 1865. Then, Sir John Lawrence, who was now the Governor-General, asked him to get more hands-on experience. So, Sir Charles worked in the Punjab again.

In 1868, he returned to the main government office. He became the foreign secretary. He held this important job until 1878. As secretary, he worked very hard and carefully. He was a trusted advisor to the leaders of India.

During this time, he started a huge project. He began collecting all the important agreements and treaties related to India. This collection was called A Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sanads relating to India and neighbouring Countries. The first book came out in 1862. By 1892, there were eleven books in the series! Each treaty had a clear history explaining it. In 1875, he also wrote a book about the independent states within India.

Leading the Punjab

In 1878, Sir Charles became the Chief Commissioner of British Burma. He left Burma in 1881. On 4 April 1882, he became the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab. His time as governor was very successful. People from all parts of society liked him.

He made big improvements in education. He helped create two important institutions in Lahore:

• Aitchison College: This school was founded in 1886.
• University of the Punjab: This university was also established during his time.

Sir Charles believed that Indian people should have more important jobs in the government. He thought they should get higher positions if they were good at their work. He even supported ideas that were more open-minded than what the government usually suggested.

He planned to leave India in 1887. However, Lord Dufferin, the new Governor-General, asked him to stay. Lord Dufferin wanted Sir Charles's advice on many important issues. So, Sir Charles stayed for another nineteen months. During this time, he also led a special group called the public service commission. This group worked on improving government jobs.

Retirement and Later Life

Sir Charles Aitchison finally left India in November 1888. He first lived in London and then moved to Oxford. In 1881, he was given the title Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India. In 1882, he became a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire. These were high honors for his service. He also received special degrees from the University of Edinburgh and Oxford University.

His Personal Life

Sir Charles was a religious man. He supported Christian missions while he was in India. After he retired, he was an active member of the Church Missionary Society. He passed away in Oxford on 18 February 1896.

In 1863, he married Beatrice Lyell. She was one of four daughters of James Cox. Their daughter, Beatrice Clementia, later married a British Indian Army officer named James Dunlop Smith.

Published Works

Sir Charles Aitchison wrote and edited several important books. These include:

• A Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries: This was a multi-volume work that he started. It was published in several editions over the years.
  • The first edition came out in 1862.
  • Later editions were published in 1876, 1892, 1909, and 1929–33.