OAKLEY, Thomas Jackson, jurist, born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1783; died in New York city, 12 May, 1857. He was graduated at Yale in 1801, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practised in Poughkeepsie, New York In 1810-'12 he was surrogate of Dutchess county. He was elected as a Federalist to congress, and served from 24 May, 1813, till 2 March, 1815. In 1816 and 1818 he was a member of the state legislature. He was appointed attorney-general of New York state in 1819, and in 1820 was again a member of the legislature. He was again elected to congress as a Clinton Democrat, and took his seat on 3 December, 1827, but resigned in 1828, on receiving the appointment of judge of the superior court of New York city. When that court was reorganized in 1846 he was elected chief justice, and filled that office until his death. The degree of LL.D. was bestowed upon him by Union college in 1853.