Philip OAKDEN

OAKDEN, PHILIP (b. Derbyshire, England, 1784?, d. Launceston, Tas, 31 July 1851). Merchant, banker, Wesleyan philanthropist.

After an up-and-down, but eventually successful business career, first in London, then Hamburg and finally Liverpool, Oakden came to VDL in 1833 in quest of large-scale mercantile opportunities. He was closely associated at various times with the Tamar Bank, the Union Bank and the Launceston Bank of Savings. Success in banking was, however, eventually somewhat offset by indifferent judgement, or bad luck, in pastoral and shipping ventures. Oakden had joined the Wesleyan Society in Liverpool around 1830, after his 'religious impressions' had 'deepened'; and in Launceston he took a sustained and financially generous interest in building the first Wesleyan chapel. He was active as its Sunday school superintendent. Conspicuously charitable, he was, as well, public-spirited, prominently involved in such instruments of improvement and humane amelioration as the Mechanic's Institute, the Infant School, St John's Hospital and the Benevolent Society. In 1839 he married Georgiana Cowie; they had six children.

ADB 2; Launceston Examiner 2 Aug 1851

RICHARD ELY