Early Life and Career
Aikins was born in Toronto Township, Upper Canada (now Ontario). His father had previously converted to Methodism, and the young Aikins was educated at the Methodist-run Upper Canada Academy in Cobourg from 1840 to 1845. Upon graduation, he acquired land near Toronto and worked as a farmer.
Aikins was offered the Reform (i.e., Liberal) nomination for York West in the 1851 Canadian parliamentary election, but declined. Three years later, he was elected to the Province of Canada's legislature for the newly-formed riding of Peel as a Clear Grit (i.e., radical reformer). Cox defeated Conservative 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 Home division, 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. Representing the (Ontario) Senate Division. 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.
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