John, M.D., born at Warrington in Lancashire, was the only son of the Rev. Dr John Aikman, who, for many years, was one of the masters in the Dissenting Academy at Warrington, before its removal to Hackney. The son received his elementary education at that seminary: his medical studies he prosecuted in the university of Edinburgh, and in London under the celebrated Dr William Hunter. He commenced his professional career as a surgeon at Chester; but not succeeding in that episcopal city, he tried to establish himself in his native town. Finally, he went to Leyden, took the degree of M.D. in that university, and attempted to establish himself as a physician in London. His success in this new field does not seem to have been considerable; partly owing to his delicate health, and partly from the singleness of purpose and keenness with which he entered into the engrossing political questions of the day, especially the grand principle of liberty of conscience. Hence he began at an early period to devote himself to literary pursuits. Dr Aikman's reputation now chiefly rests on his endeavours to popularise scientific inquiries, by rendering them easy of comprehension to the general reader. In conjunction with his sister, Mrs Barbauld, he commenced the publication of a series of volumes on this principle, entitled Evenings at Home, the sixth and last volume of which appeared in 1796. This attempt to popularise scientific inquiries was a favourite object of Dr Aikman; and the work obtained a great reputation. It is chiefly commendable for the purity of the principles it inculcates, and the pleasing views it gives of human nature. His love of nature, and his power in delineating her features, are well illustrated in The Natural History of the Year, as well as in his miscellaneous Essays.

In 1798 Dr Aikman retired from professional life, and devoted himself with great industry to literary undertakings of varied and numerous kinds, among which his valuable Biographical Dictionary holds a conspicuous place. In this he was assisted by Enfield. It appeared in ten quarto volumes, from 1799 to 1815. Besides these he published Lives of John Selden and Archbishop Usher, Memoirs of Huet Bishop of Arrasches, Geographical Delineations of All Nations, &c. &c.

A stroke of apoplexy terminated his life on the 7th of December 1822. The following is a list of the principal works of Dr Aikman.—1. Essay on the Legation of Arlerias, 1771.—2. Thoughts on Hospitals, 1771.—3. Observations on the external use of preparations of Lead, 1771.—4. Essay on the application of Natural History to Poetry, 1777.—5. Essay on the Plan and Character of Thomson's Seasons, 1778.—6. Biographical Memoirs of Medicine in Britain, 1780.—7. Poems, 1791.—8. A view of the character and public services of John Howard, Esq., 1792.—9. Description of the country round Manchester, 1795.—10. Evenings at Home, 6 vols. finished in 1796.—11. Natural History of the Year.—12. Letters to a Son, 1796.—13. General Biography, 10 vols. 4to. 1799 to 1815.—14. Letters to a Son, 2 vols. 1806.—15. Essays on Song-Writing, 1810.—16. Annals of the Reign of George III., from 1760 to 1815.—17. England Described, 1818.—18. Works of the British Poets, 1820.

(AIKMAN, WILLIAM, a painter of considerable eminence, was born in Scotland, October 24, 1682. He was the son of William Aikman, Esq. of Cairney, and was intended by his father to follow his own profession, which was that of an advocate at the Scottish bar. But the genius of the son led him to other studies. He devoted himself to the fine arts, especially that of painting; and having for some time prosecuted his studies in Britain, in the year 1707 he went to Italy, resided in Rome for three years, afterwards travelled to Constantinople and Smyrna, and in 1712 returned to his own country. About the year 1723 he fixed his residence in London, where he followed the profession of painting, and had the good fortune to be patronised by the Duke of Argyll, the Earl of Burlington, Sir Godfrey Kneller, and other liberal encouragers of the arts. He painted many portraits of persons of the first rank in England and Scot- land, and a large picture of the royal family for the Earl of Burlington, now in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire, which was unfinished at his death. Some of his portraits painted in Scotland are in the possession of the Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Hamilton, and others. Mr Aikman died in London, June 4, 1731. Six months previous to his death he had lost a son at the age of 17. The remains of both were removed to Edinburgh, and interred in the Greyfriars' churchyard on the same day. Somerville the author of *The Chase*, Mallet, Allan Ramsay the author of *The Gentle Shepherd*, and Thomson, were among Mr Aikman's intimate acquaintance; and the muse of each, in elegiac numbers, offered a warm tribute to the memory of their departed friend. The following epitaph, from the pen of Mallet, was engraved on his tomb:

Dear to the good and wise, dispairs'd by none, Here sleep in peace the father and the son; By virtue, as by nature, close ally'd, The painter's genius, but without the pride; Worth unambitious, wit afraid to shine, Honour's clear light, and friendship's warmth divine. The son, fair rising, knew too short a date; But, oh! how more severe the father's fate! He saw him torn untimely from his side, Felt all a father's anguish—wept, and died.

Aikman's style of painting was an imitation of the pleasing simplicity of nature. It is distinguished by softness of light, mellowness of shade, and mildness and harmony of colouring. His compositions have more placid tranquillity of ease than boldness of touch and brilliancy of effect. His portraits are supposed to have some resemblance to those of Kneller, not only in the imitation of the dresses of the time, but in the similarity of tint and manner of working.