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East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) / Re: Haddington Clockmaker William Aitken
« on: Wednesday 15 July 15 13:53 BST (UK) »
Thanks a lot, it was really helpful: I found what I was looking for !
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East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) / Re: Haddington Clockmaker William Aitken
« on: Monday 13 July 15 14:05 BST (UK) »
Hello,
I am a member of a French local history group. I am looking for information on William Aitken who would be born in 1774 in Haddington, possibly on November the 14th.
Indeed, in the small town where I live (Senonches, Eure-et-Loir, France), a William Aitken created an engine workshop specialized in hydraulic machines to be used specially in spinning mills.
He very quickly acquired high skills in his speciality and worked for renowned spinning mills such as Oberkampf in Paris, Richard Lenoir in Caen, Sykes à St Remi-sur-Avre.
He introduced in France the British model of the mills. In 1812, he obtained French citizenship and in 1815 he won the gold medal for Industry. (I found this reference: M. William Aitkens, from Senonches (Eure-et-Loir), hydraulic engineer, one gold medal. For the high services to improve hydraulic machineries, wool and cotton spinning mills, nail factories, oil, wind, water, paper mills, foundry, steam machinery. Unanimous gratefulness from every manufacturer of the country)
But I could not find anything on his backgrounds, who were his parents? Were they clock makers? This might explain why he was so gifted in mechanics. Why did he come to France? I would like to find his birth certificate. I don’t either know where and when he died. Did he ever come back to Haddington?
Would you have any pieces of information? Could you help me with this research? I would be very grateful.
Sincerely yours,
Jean-Jacques (from France)
I am a member of a French local history group. I am looking for information on William Aitken who would be born in 1774 in Haddington, possibly on November the 14th.
Indeed, in the small town where I live (Senonches, Eure-et-Loir, France), a William Aitken created an engine workshop specialized in hydraulic machines to be used specially in spinning mills.
He very quickly acquired high skills in his speciality and worked for renowned spinning mills such as Oberkampf in Paris, Richard Lenoir in Caen, Sykes à St Remi-sur-Avre.
He introduced in France the British model of the mills. In 1812, he obtained French citizenship and in 1815 he won the gold medal for Industry. (I found this reference: M. William Aitkens, from Senonches (Eure-et-Loir), hydraulic engineer, one gold medal. For the high services to improve hydraulic machineries, wool and cotton spinning mills, nail factories, oil, wind, water, paper mills, foundry, steam machinery. Unanimous gratefulness from every manufacturer of the country)
But I could not find anything on his backgrounds, who were his parents? Were they clock makers? This might explain why he was so gifted in mechanics. Why did he come to France? I would like to find his birth certificate. I don’t either know where and when he died. Did he ever come back to Haddington?
Would you have any pieces of information? Could you help me with this research? I would be very grateful.
Sincerely yours,
Jean-Jacques (from France)
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