George Aitchison [also known as George Aitchison, Jr.] was born in London, England on 7 November 1825 and trained with his father, George Aitchison (1792-1861) from 1841. He also attended the Royal Academy Schools in London in 1847, and University College, London from where he graduated in 1851.
From 1859 he was in partnership with his father and took over his practice following his death in 1861. He was Architect to the St. Katharine's Dock Company, and to the parish of Allhallows in Barking; and District Surveyor of Woolwich in 1868, and East Wandsworth and Tooting Graveney from 1861, He was also Surveyor to the Worshipful Company of Founders.
Aitchison was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) on 1862 and was President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (PRIBA) from 1896 to 1899. He was also elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) in 1881, and a full member of the Royal Academy (RA) in 1898. From 1887 to 1905 he was RA Professor of Architecture. He was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 1898 and died at his home, 150 Harley Street, London, on 16 May 1910.
Aitchison's principal architectural commissions were the house and studio of Sir Frederic Leighton in Holland Road, South Kensington, London (1864-66); Arab Hall, an attachment to Leighton's house (1877-89); the hall of the Founders' Company (1877); offices for the Royal Exchange Company, Pall Mall (1886); the board-room of the Thames conservancy (1868); a warehouse in Mark Lane, City of London (1864); Foiunders' Hall, St. Swithin's Lane, London (1877-78); Dummonds Bank, 49 Charing Cross Road, London (1885); and Royal Exchange Assurance Company offices, Pall Mall, London (1885)
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Crook, J. Mordaunt. ‘Groping in the dark: George Aitchison and the burden of history’ in The study of the past in the Victorian age. Edited by Vanessa Brand. Oxford : Oxbow Books, 1998 pp. 77-92
George Aitchison: Leighton's architect revealed. Edited by Caroline Dakers and Daniel Robbins. London: Leighton House Museum, 2011
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
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'Obituary'. American Architect & Building News vol. 97, 1 June 1909 p. 3
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Pearce, David. 'A feast of decoration: Heinz Gallery exhibition on George Aitchison'. Building Design no. 479, 18 January 1980 pp. 12-13
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Stell, C. F. 'Leighton House, Kensington'. Archaeological Journal vol. 114, 1957 pp. 122-125 [Plans of house designed by George Aitchison fror Frederic Leighton in London in 1865]