John Guthrie Wood Aitken (6 February 1849 – 17 August 1921) was the

Mayor of Wellington The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of the City of Wellington. The mayor presides over the Wellington City Council. The mayor is directly elected using the Single Transferable Vote method of proportional representati ...

, New Zealand from 1900 to 1905.

Biography

Early life

Aitken was born at Low Park Farm, Kilchenzie,

Kintyre Kintyre ( gd, Cinn Tìre, ) is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The peninsula stretches about , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to East and West Loch Tarbert in the north. The region immediately north ...

, Argyleshire, Scotland, on 6 February 1849 and educated at Campbeltown Grammar School. Aitken was employed by James Templeton and Co,

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. He was apparently a skilled employee, being sent to

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

to take charge of the Company, a position he held for 12 years. In 1882 he became acquainted with George Wilson and entered into partnership with him as a general merchant in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

, New Zealand. Aitken became a Director of Guardian Insurance Company, the Australian Widows' Fund (which amalgamated with the Mutual Life Association of Australasia), Scoullar and Co, Fresh Food and Ice Co, Consolidated Dental Co, as well as some other companies. He was also Chairman of Directors of the New Zealand Board of the

New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company provided investments and loans for trade and commerce in New Zealand and Australia. Notable people * James Beard, the 1889 New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Building architect * John Logan Cam ...

Political career

In 1899 Aitken entered politics being elected Mayor of Wellington from 1900 to May 1905 when he retired. He represented the City of Wellington electorate from 1902 (he was successful in his first attempt to enter parliament) to 1905, and then the Wellington East electorate from 1905 to 1908. He did not stand in 1908, thus ending his term. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1914 to 1921. He was Chairman of the Wellington Education Board, and in 1917 was the first layman to be Moderator of the General Assembly of the

Presbyterian Church of New Zealand The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) is a major Christian denomination in New Zealand. A part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in New Zealand, and known for its relatively progressive stanc ...

. Aitken was one of the founders of the Boys Institute and assisted developing the YMCA in Wellington. Together with the Rev. Dr James Gibb, Aitken was a co-founder of Scots College and Queen Margaret College. He was a supporter of Bible in Schools and the Prohibition movements. Both Aitken Street and Guthrie Street in Wellington are named after him.

Death

Aitken died at his home at 2 Levy Street, Wellington on 17 August 1921, and he was buried at

Karori Cemetery Karori Cemetery is New Zealand's second largest cemetery, located in the Wellington suburb of Karori. History Karori Cemetery opened in 1891 to address overcrowding at Bolton Street Cemetery. In 1909, it received New Zealand's first cremato ...

Notes

References

* Allan, Jonathan Aitken. "A Hearty Vote of Thanks – The Hon. John G. W Aitken, MLC of Wellington" 2013. () * *

External links

Sketch of John Aitken
, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Aitken, John 1849 births 1921 deaths Mayors of Wellington New Zealand MPs for Wellington electorates Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand Presbyterians Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Scottish emigrants to New Zealand People from Kintyre Burials at Karori Cemetery Wellington Hospital Board members