Thomas J. Oakley

Thomas J. Oakley, New York Congressman

Thomas Jackson Oakley (November 10, 1783 – May 11, 1857) was a New York attorney, politician, and judge. He served as a United States Representative and as New York State Attorney General.

Biography

Education

Oakley was born in Beekman, New York on November 10, 1783, the son of Jerusha (Petera) Oakley and Jesse Oakley, a farmer and veteran of the American Revolution.[1] He graduated from Yale College in 1801, studied law with attorney Philo Ruggles in Poughkeepsie, and was admitted to the bar in 1804.[1] Oakley practiced first in Poughkeepsie, and later in New York City.[1] Among his notable cases, Oakley and Thomas Addis Emmet represented Aaron Ogden in the landmark case Gibbons v. Ogden, which the United States Supreme Court ultimately resolved in favor of Gibbons, who was represented by Daniel Webster and William Wirt.[2]

Professional career

Oakley was Surrogate of Dutchess County from 1810 to 1811.[3] He was elected as a Federalist to the Thirteenth United States Congress (March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815).[4] During this term, Oakley was an anti-war Federalist and opposed U.S. participation in the War of 1812.

Oakley was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1816, and again from 1818 to 1820.[4] From 1819 to 1821, he was New York State Attorney General.[4]

In 1826, he was again elected to Congress, serving from March 4, 1827, until May 9, 1828, when he resigned to accept a judgeship.[4] He was a judge of the superior court of New York City from 1828 to 1847.[4] In 1847, he was appointed chief judge, and he served until his death in office.[4]

Honors

In 1853, Oakley received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Union College.[4]

Personal life

In 1808, Oakley married Lydia Williams, the daughter of Robert Williams, a prominent business and political figure in Poughkeepsie.[5] They were the parents of a son, Robert Williams Oakley, a Union College graduate, attorney, and militia officer who died unmarried in 1832.[5]

After the death of his first wife Oakley married Matilda Cruger (1809–1891); they were the parents of three daughters and two sons.[4] His father-in-law was Henry Cruger, who had the unique distinction of serving as both a member of Parliament (1774–1780; 1784–1790) and as a New York State Senator (1792–1796).[4]

Death

Oakley died May 11, 1857,[4] and was buried at Trinity Churchyard in New York City.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, p. 450.
  2. ↑ The Supreme Court in United States History, p. 59.
  3. ↑ Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, pp. 450-451.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, p. 451.
  5. 1 2 Sayre Family, p. 103.
  6. ↑ Where They're Buried, p. 247.

Sources

Books

  • Banta, Theodore Melvin. Sayre Family: Lineage of Thomas Sayre, a Founder of Southampton.
  • Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1911). Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College. V. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.
  • Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0.
  • Warren, Charles (1922). The Supreme Court in United States History. 2, 1821-1855. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
James Emott		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 4th congressional district
1813–1815		 Succeeded by
Abraham H. Schenck
Political offices
Preceded by
Martin Van Buren		 New York State Attorney General
1819–1821		 Succeeded by
Samuel A. Talcott
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Bartow White		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 5th congressional district
1827–1828		 Succeeded by
Thomas Taber II
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