Persons of Interest – Part 3, Sir Charles Umpherston AITCHISON Posted 22 July 2019 by Tessa KeoughPicking up where we left off two weeks ago – Charles had intended to leave India for good when his lieutenant-governorship came to an end on 2nd April 1887, but being invited by Lord Dufferin to join the council of governor-general and give the viceroy the benefit of his experience on the many questions which had to be dealt with consequent upon the annexation of Upper Burma, he returned to India for another nineteen months, During the latter part of his government of the Punjab he had discharged the additional duty of presiding over the public service commission, and this duty he continued to perform after joining the governor-general´s council. He gave unremitting attention to this work, and by his influence over the somewhat heterogeneous body of which the commission was composed he induced them to present a unanimous report. He retired and finally left India in November 1888. Early in the following year he settled in London, but subsequently moved to Oxford where he received an honorary M.A. from Oxford University in 1895. AITCHISON, an essentially religious man, (Church of England) was a consistent and warm supporter of Christian missions while in India, and after his retirement was an active member of the committee of the Church Missionary Society. He died on 18 Feb 1896 in Headington, Oxford, England aged 63 (Volume 3A Page 491). He was buried in Old Pentland, Midlothian, Scotland where his headstone can be found. Old Pentland is on the outskirts of Edinburgh. After his death the Bengal Civil Fund continued to look after his widow until her passing and of his family until they came of age or married. Marriage Register His daughter Beatrice Clementia married British Indian Army official James Dunlop Smith. Family Chart Inscription on the Gravestone reads: Sir Charles Umpherston AITCHISON KCSI Born 20th May 1832 Died at Oxford 18th February 1896 This is on the rear of the Headstone. On the opposite front side reads: In Memory of Charles UMPHERTSON Mill Wright, Loanhead who died 12th October 1842 aged 80 years and Elizabeth OLIPHANT his wife who died 9th November 1835? Aged 65 years Also of William UMPHERSTON their son who died at Dundee 18th November 1840 Aged 48 years Janet UMPHERSTON their daughter relict of Andrew BRUNTON who died September 15th1866 aged 72 years, Francis UMPHERSTON, Engineer Loanhead their son who died 24th July 1871 in the 79th year of his life. On the side: Also, their daughters Helen UMPHERSTON who died 18th February 1874 aged 77 years and Elizabeth UMPHERTSON relict of Hugh AITCHISON, Edinburgh born 14th February 1800, died 11th August 1879. Also, their son Charles UMPHERTSON born 28th March 1804, died 22nd November 1879 and their daughter Beatrice UMPHERSTON born 14th February 1806, died 4th September 1885 and their son James UMPHERSTON born 29th November 1801, died 30th June 1887. Sources for this article: Gravestone at Old Pentland Graveyard – Edinburgh wikipedia.org Scotland Births and Baptisms 1564 – 1950 Transcription FMP England & Wales Deaths 1837 – 2007 Marriage Certificate Charles Umpherston Aitchison and Beatrice Lyall Cox 1863 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Record set Britain, Knights of the Realm and Commonwealth Index British India Office Pension Register – Civil Funds Aitchison College webpage – https://www.aitchison.edu.pk/ Diana Aitchison, Member 7739 This is the third in a three-part series on Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison, KCSI CIE – this is a wonderful example of combining the facts and events of a person’s life with great visuals to help tell the story. On the second and fourth Mondays of each month, we share a short story provided by a member about a person of interest in their one-name study. Whether your person is good, bad, or simply interesting or unusual, please send us your story. This post is from Guild member Diana Aitchison, who is working on her Aitchison ONS. Diana is a member of the Guild’s Europe Region. Her Aitchison ONS is a category 1, and it has a profile, a Facebook page, and a registered/members’ website. Diana has been a member of the Guild since 2017. Why not submit a story (200-300 words OR a bit longer if need be) about a person of interest in your own one-name study. Email each story and image(s) to marketing@one-name.org.