(1734–July 15, 1802), was the publisher of The Pennsylvania Magazine. On January 21, 1781, he petitioned Congress for permission to print Bibles, since there was a shortage in America due to the Revolutionary War interrupting trade with England. The Continental Congress, September 10, 1782, in response to this shortage of Bibles, approved and recommended to the people that The Holy Bible be printed by Robert Aitken of Philadelphia. This first American Bible was to be “a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools”:1024
Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled … recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize [Robert Aitken] to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper.1025