Background
A younger brother of Hildebrand Oakes, he was born on 11 July 1756, received an Indian cadetship on 8 February 1775, and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Bombay Army on 18 May 1775.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Henry Oakes
Edit ProfileCareer
He served two campaigns in Guzerat in 1775-1776, in the expedition to Poonah in 1778, and at the sieges of Tellicherry, Onore, Bungalore, and Bednore in 1780-1781. Oakes was adjutant-general of the force, under General Mathews, that surrendered at Bednore (Nagur) on 28 April 1783, and was carried off prisoner by Tippoo Sultaun. When Tippoo released the prisoners in 1784, Oakes was appointed by the Madras government captain-commandant of a battalion of sepoys (10 June 1784), and, when the battalion was disbanded, returned to Bombay to command the grenadiers of the 2nd Bombay Europeans, whence he was transferred to the 12th Bombay Native Infantry in September 1788, and took the field with that corps in 1790, serving first as quarter-master-general, and afterwards as commissary of supplies.
He was with his battalion at the sieges of Cananore and Seringapatam in 1790, was detached with a separate force to Kolapore in Malabar, and was afterwards with the troops under Major Cappage in October 1791.
He went out again in 1802, and was appointed colonel of the 7th Bombay Native Infantry, but was compelled to return home through ill-health. He went to India once more in 1807 as military auditor-general at Bombay, but was again obliged to return home.
Oakes, whose constitution had been completely undermined in India, was subject to fits of insanity, in one of which he destroyed himself. His death took place at his residence at Mitcham, Surrey, on 1 November 1827.
Henry Oakes married, on 9 December 1792, Dorothea, daughter of General George Bowles of Mount Prospect, company
She died on 24 May 1837.
Achievements
-
Born
-
Died
November 1, 1827 (aged 71) -
Nationality
United Kingdom