Financier, Philanthropist, President of the Hudson Companies, was born in Philadelphia, the son of John and Harriette S. (Campbell) Oakman and received his preparatory education in private schools in the city of his birth, afterwards graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon leaving college he entered the banking house of John S. Kennedy & Company, where he gained a knowledge of financial affairs that was of vast benefit in his after life. He was then appointed division superintendent of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and soon mastered the intricacies of railroading and general transportation. On retiring from the service of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, Mr. Oakman came to New York City and the next quarter century of his life was a period of intense activity. During this time he filled the office of vice president of the Central Railroad of New York; president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad system, now the greater part of the Southern Railroad; and was for ten years president of the Guaranty Trust Company. While president of the trust company, Mr. Oakman was vice president of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. He was greatly interested in the question of relieving the congested traffic conditions, and his experience with steam roads was of vast assistance when the subways were built. He was also an important factor in the organization of the Hudson Companies, of which he has been president since their formation; and in the construction of the tubes and terminal buildings of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Company, Mr. Oakman's part was an important one. In addition to being president of the Hudson Companies, Mr. Oakman is vice president and director of the Jefferson and Clearfield Coal and Iron Company and a director of the following concerns: Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company; American Car and Foundry Company; Brooklyn Heights Railroad Company; Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company; Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad Company; Hudson Street Railroad Company; Kings County and Fulton Elevated Railroad Company; Long Island Railroad Company: Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company; Morristown Trust Company; National Bank of Commerce; New York and New Jersey Railroad Company; Reynoldsville and Falls Creek Railroad Company, and Richmond Light and Railroad Company. Mr. Oakman is a member of the Metropolitan, Union, University, Riding, Down Town, and Railroad Clubs of New York. He is also a member of the Automobile Club of America, the Century Association of New York, the Pennsylvania Society of New York, and of the Alumni Association of the University of Pennsylvania.