Edward Aaron Cohen

---

Date of Birth1822
Death Date13 April 1877

ParliamentVictoria
DesignationMLA East Melbourne
PartyIndependent
Term1861 to 1877

BiographyEdward Aaron Cohen was born in London but arrived in Sydney as a child of 11 as his father had been transported as a convict but later received a conditional pardon. After assisting his father set up a Sydney business, he moved to Victoria becoming an auctioneer and importer. He was Mayor of Melbourne in 1862-63 and served in the colonial parliament from 1861 until 1865, and again from 1868 until his death in 1877 when he was succeeded by Ephraim Zox. He worked tirelessly for the Jewish community as president of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation campaigning for equal citizenship rights and raising funds to assist impoverished Jews. Edward Cohen died in Melbourne at the age of 54, his funeral attended by a large gathering. His portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.