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 dockyards in 1776 and 1777 during the American Revolutionary War.

[1] The early death of his father allowed Aitken to enter the charitable school for impoverished children at George Heriot's Hospital, which was founded to care for the "puir, faitherless bairns" of Edinburgh.

Upon leaving school at age 14, he tried his hand at a variety of low-paying trades, including an apprenticeship as a painter in 1767,[2] before finding that the world of criminal activity offered him more immediate rewards.

Some historians have speculated that Aitken was motivated by a desire to escape his life of insignificance and poverty, and believed that by striking a blow on behalf of the American revolutionaries, he would be recognised and handsomely rewarded for his efforts.

Using his training with mixing chemicals and paint solvents from his trade as a painter, Aitken solicited the help of several others in constructing crude incendiary devices with the intention of burning down the highly flammable buildings in the Royal Dockyards.

[1] Aitken's exploits, though only marginally successful at causing meaningful damage, did succeed in generating a significant amount of panic among the British public and government.

British authorities hanged John the Painter on 10 March 1777 from the mizzenmast of HMS Arethusa for arson in royal dockyards after he was caught setting the rope house at Portsmouth on fire.