James Aitken (9 May 1829 – 26 January 1908) was an English clergyman and sportsman who excelled incricket,rowing and athletics.
Aitken was born atMonken Hadley, then inMiddlesex, the son of John Aitken and his wife Harriet. He was educated atEton College where he played cricket in the Eton XI. He went on toExeter College, Oxford, matriculating in 1847, and graduating B.A. in 1851 and M.A. in 1854.[1]
Aitken played in theOxford XI, including theVarsity matches against Cambridge in 1848, 1849, and 1850, and captained the team in 1850.[2] In 1849, he also rowed in theOxford boat in theBoat Race. In 1850, he was in the Oxfordeight that won theGrand Challenge Cup and thecoxed four that won theStewards' Challenge Cup atHenley Royal Regatta. In 1851, he partneredJoseph William Chitty to winSilver Goblets at Henley.[3] Aitken was also an athlete and at Oxford won the mile race, came second in the two miles race and was described as favourite at 2 to 1 in the Steeplechese.[4]
Aitken was ordained after leaving the university. In 1853, he played cricket for Harlequins and between 1855 and 1857 played for Gentlemen of Kent teams. In due course, he became the vicar ofChorleywood,Hertfordshire.[5] It was said that few of the younger people could hold their own against him at lawn tennis.[6] In 1869 Aitken responded to Dr J Morgan, who was investigating the health effects of rowing.[7]
Your letter reached me at a most opportune time, as I was in company with my old friend Mr J. Chitty, and we at once discussed the subject of it together; we both agreed that rowing and training had not done us the very slightest harm, and what is more, we could not remember any one of our old Oxford boating friends who had suffered from it. So far from considering training to be dangerous, I believe that most men would be infinitely the better for it.
Aitken died atHove at the age of 78. His brotherHenry Aitken also played cricket for Oxford.