Born at Dalry, Ayrshire on 25 March 1872, the fifth son and ninth youngest child of Andrew Blair Aitken and his wife Jane Young. He was educated at the Ayrshire Academy, Ayr, and at Glasgow University where he graduated in 1893. After holding resident appointments at Oldham Infirmary and the Wirral

Born in London on 29 May 1872, fourth son of the Very Rev the Hon William Henry Fremantle, Dean of Ripon, and Isabella, his wife, daughter of Sir Culling Eardley, 3rd Baronet, the religious philanthropist (for whom see *DNB*). The Dean was the second son of Thomas Francis Fremantle, 1st Lord Cottesl