Home > James Cox Aikins

Aikins was born in Toronto Township, Upper Canada (now Ontario). His father converted to Methodism shortly after arriving in Upper Canada, and the young Aikins was educated at the Methodist-run Upper Canada Academy in Cobourg between 18401840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). Events January 3 One of the predecessor papers to the Herald Sun of Melbourne, Australia, The Port Phillip Herald is founded by George Cavanaugh. January 10 Uniform penny postage and 1845Events January 29 The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe is published for the first time New York Evening Mirror . March 1 President John Tyler signs a bill authorizing the United States to annex the Republic of Texas. March 3 Florida is admitted as the 27th U.. Upon graduation, he acquired land near Toronto and worked as a farmer.

Aikins was offered the Reform (Liberal) PartyLiberal Party of Canada Current Leader Paul Martin Founded July 1, 1867 (nation's founding) Headquarters Suite 40081 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, OntarioK1P 6M8 Colours Red Political ideology liberal International alignment Liberal International The Liberal Pa nomination for the riding of York West in 1851Events January 23 The flip of a coin determines whether a new city in Oregon is named after Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine, with Portland winning. March 1 Victor Hugo gives speech at the French national assembly and uses the phrase United State, but declined. Three years later, he was elected to the Province of CanadaNote: for information about Canada's present-day provinces, see Provinces of Canada. The Province of Canada was a British colony in North America, created by the fusion of the Canadas into one province by the Act of Union (1840). The former Lower Canada b's legislature for the newly-formed riding of PeelPeel has more than one possible meaning: Peel is a synonym for skin. Peel is a type of tower or fortified keep. A peel is a kind of long-handled tool used in baking. A number of places are called Peel including: Peel, Belgium Peel, Canada Peel, Isle of Ma as a Clear Grit (ie. radical reformer), defeating ConservativeThe name Conservative Party of Canada has been used twice in Canadian history. For the current party founded 2003 please see the article Conservative Party of Canada. The Conservative Party has been gone under a variety of names over the years. Initially G. Wright by 865 votes to 810.

The Clear Grit faction in parliament had previously been aligned with Francis Hincks's governing Reformers, but this alliance ended after the 1854 election. Most of Hincks's supporters subsequently formed a new alliance with the Conservatives, while the Clear Grits formed a "left opposition" and attempted to reconstruct the Reform Party on their terms. Aikins was a minor figure in the Grit parliamentary ranks for the next three years but was nevertheless re-elected in 1857, with 2007 votes against 915 for his Conservative opponent. The Conservative-led alliance remained in power during these years, and Aikins remained in opposition.

Between 1856 and 1861, there were numerous debates in Peel County concerning a planned division of the riding, and the location of its new county seat. Local differences weakened the reformist cause, and Aikins was narrowly defeated by Conservative John Hillyard Cameron in the election of 1861.

In 1862, Aikins was elected to an eight-year term in the Province of Canada's Legislative Council, an upper house with both appointed and elected members. Running as a Liberal in the riding of Home , he defeated his sole opponent by 2934 votes to 1559.

Aikins played only a minor role in the parliamentary debates on Canadian confederation, which he supported in principle despite concerns about the legislative means which John A. Macdonald was using to move the policy forward. After Confederation was approved, Aikins attempted to introduce legislation for an elected Senate, but was ruled out of order by the Council's speaker. Along with other members of the Legislative Council, he was appointed to the (unelected) Canadian Senate upon its creation in May 1867. In 1868, Aikins was offered a cabinet position in Prime Minister John A. Macdonald's Liberal-Conservative government, but turned it down for fear of dividing the Liberal Party.

In 1869, Francis Hincks returned to Canadian political life by joining Macdonald's government as a "coalition Reformer". Macdonald wanted Liberal Senators William McMaster and Aikins join Hincks in the ministry, so as to further broaden its appeal with the electorate; McMaster declined, but suggested that Aikins accept the offer and represent Liberal interests inside the government. Aikins was agreeable to his suggestion, and became a Minister without Portfolio on November 16. On December 8, he was appointed Secretary of State for Canada, and would continue to hold this position until the defeat of the Macdonald government on November 5, 1873. He also served as acting Secretary of State for the Provinces and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs for one month in 1873, following the resignation of Joseph Howe.

When Macdonald's Conservatives were returned to government in 1878, Aikins was again appointed Secretary of State for Canada as the ministry's sole "coalition Reformer" (the group was by this time a minor political force in Canada). On November 8, 1880, Aikins was promoted to the Ministry of Inland Revenue . In this capacity, he oversaw various applications for government postings; he had little direct control over patronage in central Canada, but was a more powerful figure as regards the western provinces.

Aikins's support for temperance was an embarrassment for the Macdonald government, which received considerable financial support from liquor interests. On May 22, 1882, Aikins was pursuaded to resign from cabinet and the Senate, and to accept an appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba (with the promise of being re-appointed to the Senate after his term ended). He formally resigned from the Senate on May 30, and was sworn in to his new position on December 2.

Aikins arrived in Manitoba during a period of discord between the provincial and federal governments; Macdonald had recently disallowed Premier John Norquay's railway legislation, and an opposition movement was forming around Thomas Greenway. Aikins was under instructions from Macdonald to ensure that national policies were reflected in the province's legislation, though his awkward relationship with Premier Norquay made this task difficult.

Aikins presided over the transfer of power from Norquay to Greenway in 1887- 88, but his own involvement in Manitoba politics was fairly limited. Initially a very powerful office, the position of Lt. Governor in Manitoba was largely ceremonial by this time.

Aikins's term in office ended on July 1, 1888, though he was not re-appointed to the Senate until January 7, 1896. By now fully integrated into the Conservative ranks, he remained a Senator until his death in 1904.

Aikins's son, also named James, served as Lt. Governor of Manitoba in the early 20th century.