Urian Oakes
Encyclopedia
Urian Oakes was an English
-born American minister and educator.
; Thomas Oakes
was his brother. He graduated at Harvard College
in 1649. While in America he married Ruth, daughter of the nonconformist minister William Ames
. Oakes returned to England during the time of the Commonwealth, and obtained the living of Titchfield
. He was an ejected minister in 1662. His wife died in 1669.
Two years later a deputation, sent to England to find a minister for the vacant church of Cambridge, Massachusetts
chose Oakes. He took up the post in November 1671, and soon after he became one of the governors of Harvard College. Leonard Hoar
became President of Harvard in 1672, but was disliked by many, including some of the governors, among them Oakes. He and other of his colleagues resigned, and, in spite of the efforts of the general court of overseers, would not withdraw their resignation till Hoar himself vacated the presidency on 15 March 1675. The vacancy created was filled by the appointment of Oakes. He, however, would only accept it provisionally; but after discharging the duties of the office for four years, he in 1679 accepted the full appointment in form, and held it till his death on July 25, 1681. Calamy states that Oakes was noted for ‘the uncommon sweetness of his temper,’ and in New England he was greatly beloved by his congregation and popular with all who came in contact with him.
He was known as a preacher and Latinist. His extant writings are three sermons—two preached at the annual election of the artillery company in 1672 and 1676, and the third at the election of representatives in 1673—and a monody in English verse (Cambridge, 1677) on the death of Thomas Shepard, minister of the church in Charlestown.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born American minister and educator.
Life
He was born in England in 1631 or 1632, and went when a child with his father to MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
; Thomas Oakes
Thomas Oakes (representative)
Thomas Oakes was a physician and politician in New England, speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.He born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 18 June 1644, brother of Urian Oakes, and graduated at Harvard College in 1662. He subsequently studied medicine in London, and obtained some...
was his brother. He graduated at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1649. While in America he married Ruth, daughter of the nonconformist minister William Ames
William Ames
William Ames was an English Protestant divine, philosopher, and controversialist...
. Oakes returned to England during the time of the Commonwealth, and obtained the living of Titchfield
Titchfield
Titchfield is a village in southern Hampshire, by the River Meon. The village has a history stretching back to the 6th century. During the medieval period, the village operated a small port and market...
. He was an ejected minister in 1662. His wife died in 1669.
Two years later a deputation, sent to England to find a minister for the vacant church of Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
chose Oakes. He took up the post in November 1671, and soon after he became one of the governors of Harvard College. Leonard Hoar
Leonard Hoar
Leonard Hoar was an English-born early American minister and educator, who spent a short and troubled term as President of Harvard College.-Life:...
became President of Harvard in 1672, but was disliked by many, including some of the governors, among them Oakes. He and other of his colleagues resigned, and, in spite of the efforts of the general court of overseers, would not withdraw their resignation till Hoar himself vacated the presidency on 15 March 1675. The vacancy created was filled by the appointment of Oakes. He, however, would only accept it provisionally; but after discharging the duties of the office for four years, he in 1679 accepted the full appointment in form, and held it till his death on July 25, 1681. Calamy states that Oakes was noted for ‘the uncommon sweetness of his temper,’ and in New England he was greatly beloved by his congregation and popular with all who came in contact with him.
He was known as a preacher and Latinist. His extant writings are three sermons—two preached at the annual election of the artillery company in 1672 and 1676, and the third at the election of representatives in 1673—and a monody in English verse (Cambridge, 1677) on the death of Thomas Shepard, minister of the church in Charlestown.