John Wheeler

John Wheeler (7 December 1853 – 18 April 1915) was an Australian politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1889 and 1891.

He was born in Sydney to sawyer Aaron Wheeler and Elizabeth Hawkins. He began work in 1870 for a coal company in Newcastle, eventually becoming a general manager.

In 1870, Wheeler joined Loyal Orange Institution of New South Wales under the Grand Orange Lodge of Australia. He served as New South Wales Grand Master in 1886, from 1894-1909, and in 1912. He served as the President of Loyal Orange Institution of Australasia.

On 7 August 1878 he married Hannah Clarke, with whom he had seven children. He served as an alderman at Petersham, and was mayor from 1886 to 1890.

At the 1887 election for Canterbury he was one of nine Free Trade candidates for the four seats of the district of Canterbury, but was unsuccessful. At the 1889 election there were only four Free Trade candidates, including Wheeler, and all four were elected. For the 1891 election Wheeler was again one of four candidates nominated by the party, while a fifth candidate, James Eve, had the support of the local branch. The election was close with only 105 votes separating Thomas Bavister elected 2nd and Eve in 5th place, five votes behind Wheeler. Eve lodged a petition against the election of Wheeler. The Elections and Qualifications Committee conducted a re-count which overturned the result and declared that Eve had been elected.