James C. Aikins: Statesman, Visionary and Guardian of Toronto’s Cemeteries

1823–1904
Mount Pleasant Cemetery 
Plot V Lot 2

Born in Toronto Township, James Cox Aikins rose from modest beginnings to become a towering figure in Canadian public life. Educated at local schools and Victoria College in Cobourg, Aikins earned a law degree but initially chose farming. His political career began in 1854 when he represented Peel County in the Province of Canada’s Legislative Assembly. Though defeated in 1861, he rebounded to serve in the Legislative Council until Confederation in 1867.

Aikins was appointed to the Senate and later served under Sir John A. Macdonald as Secretary of State and Minister of Inland Revenue, shaping Canada’s early governance. In 1882, he became Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and Keewatin, presiding during a transformative and tumultuous era that expanded Manitoba’s boundaries and strengthened provincial autonomy. His tenure reflected constitutional restraint, allowing Manitoba’s legislature to mature politically.

After retiring from politics, Aikins returned to Toronto and assumed a quieter but equally significant role: trustee of the Toronto General Burying Ground (TGBG) from 1894 to 1904. The TGBG, now Mount Pleasant Group, established in 1826, managed Toronto’s major cemeteries, including Mount Pleasant, under a unique non-profit trust model. Trustees like Aikins ensured perpetual care funds were created, guaranteeing dignified maintenance of burial grounds for generations. This groundbreaking approach became a North American standard for cemetery sustainability.

Aikins died on August 6, 1904, at his Wellesley Street home. His life bridged politics, faith and civic duty, shaping Canada’s Confederation and safeguarding Toronto’s heritage of remembrance. Today, his grave at Mount Pleasant Cemetery stands as a testament to a man who believed in service, both to the living and the dead. 

Sources:
•  Wikipedia – James Cox Aikins 
•  Dictionary of Canadian Biography – Aikins, James Cox 
•  Find a Grave – James Cox Aikins 
•  Mount Pleasant Group - James Cox Aikins