Sir Max Aitken, 2nd Baronet

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Sir John William Maxwell "Max" Aitken, 2nd Baronet, DSO, DFC (February 15 1910–April 30 1985), formerly 2nd Baron Beaverbrook, was a British Conservative politician and press baron, the son of Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook.

Born in Montreal, Aitken was educated at Westminster School. He served as a pilot with the "No 601 Hurricane Squadron" during World War II, earning the Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross. He reached the rank of Group Captain. He entered the family newspaper business, as a director of the Express Group, and would become Chairman of Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd.

At the 1945 general election, Aitken was elected Member of Parliament for Holborn with a majority of just 925. Unfavourable boundary changes meant that the Labour Party took the successor seat in 1950 comfortably and Aitken did not stand at that or subsequent elections. He also served as Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick.

Aitken married three times:

1) Cynthia Monteith (1939-1944) (divorced)
2) Ursula Kenyon-Slaney (1946-1950) (divorced); two daughters (Kirsty and Lynda)
3) Violet de Trafford (1951-30 April 1985); a son and a daughter (Maxwell and Laura)

He succeeded his father as Baron Beaverbrook on his death on June 9 1964, but disclaimed the title three days later on June 12, stating that he wished there to be only one Lord Beaverbrook in his lifetime. On his death in 1985, his son, also Max Aitken, took on the title.

[edit] External links

The Sir Max Aitken Museum

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by: Sir Robert Inigo Tasker	Member of Parliament for Holborn 1945–1950	Succeeded by: (constituency abolished)
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by: Max Aitken	Baron Beaverbrook (Disclaimed) 1964–1985	Succeeded by: Max Aitken