John Aikman

Caricature of Lord Mayor the Hon J. G. Aikman, 1919

John George Aikman (24 June 1858 – 29 July 1928) was an Australian politician.

He was born in Prahran to surveyor Robert Aikman and Ann Davis Woodman. He attended a private school in Brunswick, leaving at the age of twelve to work as a printer's assistant. He then became a draper, co-owning several stores until 1893, when he purchased Richards and Company and Wallachs, a Melbourne-based firm. On 14 July 1887 he married Alice Jean Semple, with whom he had two sons. He also owned some pastoral land, and served on Essendon Town Council from 1897 to 1908 (mayor from 1898 to 1900) and Melbourne City Council from 1904 to 1928 (Lord Mayor 1919–20). In 1904 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for Melbourne West Province. A non-Labor member, he lost to Labor candidate Daniel McNamara in 1916 but was returned on petition. He was defeated again in 1922 and left state politics, but remained on Melbourne City Council.[1]

Aikman was also involved in sports administration, serving as the inaugural president of the Essendon Town Football Club from its establishment in 1900,[2] then as president of the Victorian Football Association from 1903 until his death in 1928.[3][4]

Aikman died in Toorak in 1928.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Parliament of Victoria (2001). "Aikman, John George". re-member: a database of all Victorian MPs since 1851. Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Football". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 2 April 1900. p. 9.
  3. ^ "Victorian Football Association". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 2 May 1903. p. 18.
  4. ^ Onlooker (30 July 1928). "Association – All leaders win well". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 6.
  5. ^ "DEATH OF COUNCILLOR AIKMAN". The Australasian. Vol. CXXV, no. 4, 152. Victoria, Australia. 4 August 1928. p. 13 (METROPOLITAN EDITION). Retrieved 10 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
Victorian Legislative Council
New seat Member for Melbourne West
1904–1916
Served alongside: William Edgar; William Fielding
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Melbourne West
1916–1922
Served alongside: Arthur Disney
Succeeded by
Civic offices
Preceded by Lord Mayor of Melbourne
1919–1920
Succeeded by