It was Atkinson's proficiency with languages that brought him to the attention of The Lord Minto, the Governor General of India, who invited Atkinson to Calcutta in 1812 [REF] where he was appointed Assistant to the Assay Master at the Calcutta Mint (appointed Deputy Assay Master in 1818) [REF].
Atkinson was a member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta and sat on the committee of the Chowringhee Theatre.