Career
Oakeley was born in Forton, Staffordshire, near Newport, a son of William Oakeley and Christian Strachan. The Oakeley Baronetcy of Shrewsbury was created for him on 5 June 1790. Oakeley worked as an administrator in India, and was responsible for collecting funds for the war when the Carnatic was invaded by Hyde Ally Cawn.
The war came to an end on 1784 and Oakeley returned to England due to family reasons in February 1789, but he was persuaded to return to India, this time to serve as the Governor of Madras, he held this post from 1790 to 1794.
He died in Fort Street George, Madras, India in 1826.