Background
Oxenden was the son of Sir Henry Oxenden, 1st Baronet of Deane, Kent and his wife Elizabeth Merideth, daughter of Sir William Meredith, 1st Baronet.
Oxenden was the son of Sir Henry Oxenden, 1st Baronet of Deane, Kent and his wife Elizabeth Merideth, daughter of Sir William Meredith, 1st Baronet.
He was admitted at Trinity Hall, Cambridge as a scholar on 8 July 1667 becoming a Fellow in 1671 and being awarded Bachelor of Laws in 1673, Master of Arts in 1675 and Doctor of Laws in 1679.
He was incorporated at Oxford University in 1674 and entered Doctor"s Commons in 1679. In 1684 he became Regius Professor of Civil Law at Cambridge. He became Master of Trinity Hall in 1689.
He also became vicar-general to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Dean of Arches and a judge of the Admiralty in 1689.
He was one of the commissioners for the rebuilding of Street Paul"s Cathedral from 1692 and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge for 1692-1693. Oxenden died at his house in Doctors Commons and was buried in the family vault at Wingham.
Oxenden married Elizabeth Dixwell, daughter of Sir Basil Dixwell, 1st Baronet around 1700. Elizabeth was a Maid of Honour to Queen Mary.
In 1695 Oxenden was elected as Member of Parliament for Cambridge University and held the seat until 1698 when he stood unsuccessfully.