Dictionary of Indian Biography/Aitchison, Sir Charles Umpherston
AITCHISON, SIR CHARLES UMPHERSTON (1832–1896)
I.C.S. : born May 20, 1832, son of Hugh Aitchison, of Edinburgh : educated at the High School and University there : and at the University of Halle : passed in the first competitive examination, while Haileybury was being abolished : arrived in India in 1856 : he narrowly escaped the massacre of Emropeans at Hissar in 1857 : was Under Secretary in the Foreign Department of the Government of India, 1859–65, and, after some executive work, was Foreign Secretary, 1868–78. Sharing, as he did, the views of Lord Lawrence on questions of Central Asian and Afghan policy, he was strongly opposed to the measures which led to the second Afghan War of 1878–80. He was Chief Commissioner of British Burma from March, 1878, to July, 1880; Lieutenant-Governor of the Panjab, 1882–87; Member of the Supreme Council from April, 1887. to Nov. 1888 : also President of the important Public Service Commission in 1887–88 : K.C.S.I. in 1881, C.I.E. in 1882 : also LL.D. of Edinburgh and honorary M.A. of Oxford. He compiled the first edition of the Treaties, Engagements and Sunnuds, an authoritative work of reference, always quoted under his name : wrote also The Native States of India, and Lord Lawrence in the Rulers of India series : he died at Oxford Feb. 18, 1896.