Sir Robert Aitken
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham
In office
1953–1968
Preceded byH.F. Humphreys
Succeeded byRobert Hunter
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago
In office
1948–1953
Personal details
Born
Robert Stevenson Aitken

(1901-04-16)16 April 1901
Wyndham, New Zealand
Died10 April 1997(1997-04-10) (aged 95)
Alma materUniversity of Otago
Balliol College, Oxford
Occupation

Sir Robert Stevenson Aitken (16 April 1901 – 10 April 1997) was a physician and university administrator from New Zealand, vice-chancellor of the University of Otago between 1948 and 1953 and of the University of Birmingham in England between 1953 and 1968.[1]

Born in Wyndham on 16 April 1901, Aitken was educated at Mosgiel District High School and Gisborne High School. He went on to study medicine at the University of Otago, graduating MB ChB in 1922. He played representative field hockey for Otago in 1921 and 1922. In 1924, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, and went to study at Balliol College, Oxford, where he completed a DPhil in 1926. In 1929, Aitken married Margaret Kane, and the couple had three children.[2]

In 1953, Aitken was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.[3] He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours.[4]

References

  1. ^ Wade, Owen (16 April 1997). "Obituary: Sir Robert Aitken". The Independent. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
  2. ^ Traue, J. E., ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 40. ISBN 0-589-01113-8.
  3. ^ "Coronation Medal" (PDF). Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette. No. 37. 3 July 1953. pp. 1021–1035. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  4. ^ "No. 42051". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 1960. p. 3973.
Academic offices Preceded byHumphrey Francis Humphreys Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham 1953–1968 Succeeded byRobert Hunter
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