William Aikman, a Scottish portrait painter, born Oct. 24, 1682, died in London, June 4, 1731. He spent three years in Italy, travelled in Turkey, practised his art some years in Edinburgh, and in 1723 settled in London, where he was liberally patronized, and on intimate terms with the leading spirits in art and letters. His works closely resemble those of Sir Godfrey Kneller.