Robert Aitken (editor)

For other uses of this term, see Robert Aitken.

Robert Aitken (1734-1802) was an editor in Philadelphia, born in Dalkeith, Scotland. He was the first to publish a Bible in the newly formed United States.

Carrera He began his career as a book seller in Philadelphia in 1769 and 1771. He then began the publication of The Pennsylvania Magazine in 1775, continuing until 1776. He also printed copies of the New Testament in 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1781. Shortage of bibles

Due to the War of the Independence of the United States, England ceased shipping Bibles to America, which prompted the Continental Congress to issue a motion on September 11, 1777, to instruct the Trade Committee to 20,000 Bibles from "Scotland, Holland, or wherever" are purchased. This, finally, was not voted. A second motion to import Bibles was made a resolution, but was postponed and then was not considered. The Bible of Aitken

On January 21, 1781, Aitken asked Congress to certify his version of the Bible, which he had already printed as accurate. The congress acceded to his request to certify his Bible as a way to help the US Printing Industry, but denied his second request that his Bible be "published under the Authority of Congress," and that he be "commissioned, or another way selected to edit and sell Editions of the Holy Scriptures. "

Despite the support of Congress, the interruption of seven years of shipments of Bibles from England, and almost a year without import competition, the Aitken Bible was a commercial disaster, ending it with losses of more of £ 3,000 for the 10,000 bibles he printed. His last attempt to get Congress to buy his Bibles, to hand them over to the discharged soldiers, was rejected by Congress. He died in Philadelphia in 1802.

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