Alexander Aitkin Explained

Alexander Aitkin should not be confused with Alexander Aitken.

Alexander Aitkin (or Aitken, born around 1771 and died 1799) was a Scottish surveyor. He served as deputy surveyor general in 1784 and later the first surveyor general of Upper Canada.

Aitkin was from Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland^[1] to David Aitken and possibly Catherine.^[2]

He served as deputy surveyor for Mecklenburg, Penetanguishene Harbour, and Lake Simcoe.^[3] He was responsible for surveying and creating the first city plan for Toronto and made plans for the York Harbour in 1793.^{[4] [5]}

Lot Street, later to be renamed Queen Street, was the first concession street in York. The original street was 6,600 feet or 1.25 miles (approx. 2 km) in length.^[6] The street was used to divide the lands in the Liberties into park lots for residential use.

He died of tuberculosis at an early age and was buried in Kingston, Ontario on 1 January 1800.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Book: Lobies . Jean-Pierre . Lobies . François-Pierre . Zeller . Otto . Zeller . Wolfram . IBN: Index bio-bibliographicus notorum hominum . 1988 . Biblio Verlag . 288 . 14 June 2018 . la.
2. Web site: Biography – AITKEN, ALEXANDER – Volume IV (1771-1800) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography. www.biographi.ca. 2020-05-19.
3. Book: Publications of the Champlain Society: Ontario series . 1963 . Champlain Society . 17 . 14 June 2018 . en.
4. Book: Guillet . Edwin C. . Early Life in Upper Canada . 1933 . University of Toronto Press . 9781487598037 . 152 . 14 June 2018 . en.
5. Book: McHugh . Patricia . Bozikovic . Alex . Toronto Architecture: A City Guide . 2017 . McClelland & Stewart . 9780771059902 . 11 . 14 June 2018 . en.
6. Web site: Bébout . Rick . Queen Street: Thematic Preview . 14 June 2018.
7. Book: Turner . Glenn . The Toronto Carrying Place: Rediscovering Toronto's Most Ancient Trail . 2015 . Dundurn . 9781459730472 . 168 . 14 June 2018 . en.