David D. Aitken

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

David Demerest Aitken (September 5, 1853–May 26, 1930) was a U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan.

Aitken was born on a farm in Flint Township, Michigan in Genesee County. His father, Robert P. Aitken, served in the Michigan House of Representatives 1865-1868. Aitken attended the district schools and the local high school in Flint. He taught in a district school of Genesee County in 1871-1872 and moved to New Jersey in 1872, where he was employed as a bookkeeper. He studied law in New York City, was admitted to the bar in 1878, and commenced practice in Flint. He was Flint city clerk 1883-1886 and city attorney 1886-1890.

Aitken was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th District of Michigan for the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1897. He was chairman of the House Committee on Mining in the Fifty-fourth Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination, running instead for Governor of Michigan in 1896. After losing that election to Hazen S. Pingree, Aitken resumed the practice of law and also engaged in banking. He served as mayor of Flint in 1905 and 1906. He died in Flint, and is interred in Glenwood Cemetery there.

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.