John the Painter

James Aitken
1777 engraving of James Aitken
Born	(1752-09-28)28 September 1752 Edinburgh
Died	10 March 1777(1777-03-10) (aged 24) Portsmouth
Cause of death	Hanging
Other names	John the Painter
Criminal status	Executed
Conviction(s)	Arson in royal dockyards
Criminal penalty	Death

James Aitken (28 September 1752 – 10 March 1777), also known as John the Painter, was a mercenary who committed acts of sabotage in Royal Navy naval dockyards during the American Revolutionary War in 1776–77.