Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/683

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
YOUNG
YOUNG

ency in 1878. He was elected to the Ontario legis- lature for North Hastings in 1879, re-elected by acclamation in 1883, and on 2 June, 1882, became provincial treasurer, which post he resigned on 29 Oct., in consequence of feeble health, but continued to represent Riding till December, 1886, when he declined a renomination. In the Dominion parlia- ment he secured the abolition of the office of queen's printer, in 1873 submitted a bill in favor of the ballot, proposed a committee and report in 1874, which resulted in the publication of the " Hansard," containing the house of commons debates, and was the author of other important measures. He was elected president of the Reform association of On- tario in 1878, has been president of the Sabbath- school association of that province, a member of the Agriculture and arts association of Ontario, and is connected with various industrial and finan- cial associations. He has published two prize essays — "The Agricultural Resources of Canada" (1857) and "The Reciprocity Treaty" (1865)— " Reminis- cences of the Early History of Gait and the Settle- ment of Dumfries " (1880), and " The National Future of Canada " (1887). a collected series of let- ters published originally in the Toronto " Globe," and in opposition to a commercial union with the United States and to imperial federation. YOUNG, John, governor of Hawaii, b. in Mas- sachusetts about 1755; d. in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1835. He shipped about 1789 as boatswain of the " Eleanor," which called at Hawaii a year later. In revenge for the murder of a sailor, the captain killed about 100 natives with grapeshot, and sailed away, accidentally leaving Young on shore. The latter was doomed to death, but was saved through the intercession of the king's niece, Kaoanaeha, who had fallen in love with him. They were soon afterward married, and King Kamehameha made him his chief counsellor, benefited by his instruc- tions in establishing his empire over all the islands, and appointed him governor of the island of Ha- waii. Young was the grandfather of Queen Emma Kaleleonalani. (See Kalakaua.)


YOUNG, John, agricultural writer, b. in Fal- kirk, Scotland, in September, 1773; d. in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 6 Oct., 1837. He was educated in Glasgow, became a merchant, emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1814, and was the representative of Syd- ney in the provincial assembly from 1825 till his death. He also filled the office of secretary of the Nova Scotia board of agriculture, having awakened a wide-spread interest in agricultural economy by a series of letters that were published under the signature of " Agricola " in the Halifax " Recorder " in 1818, and taken an active part in the formation of agricultural societies, to which the first impetus was given by his letters, which were published in book-form under the title of " Letters of Agricola on the Principles of Vegetation and Tillage" (Hali- fax, 1822). He also prepared a "Report of the Proceedings of the Agricultural Society of Hali- fax " (Halifax, 1823-'4).— His son, George R., au- thor, b. in Scotland ; d. in Halifax, N. S., was a member of parliament, and the author of several important works, the chief of which was a sketch of " Colonial Literature, Science, and Education " He was also the founder of the " Nova Scotian," a paper which in after years, under the editor- ship of Joseph Howe, exerted wide influence. He also published " Letters to E. G. S. Stanley, M. P., upon the Existing Treaties with France and America as regards their Rights of Fishery " (London, 1834), and " History, Principles, and Prospects of the Bank of British North America and of the Colonial Bank " (1838). — Another son, Sir William, Canadian jurist, b. in Falkirk, Stir- lingshire, Scotland, 29 July, 1799 ; d. in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 8 May, 1887, was educated at Glas- gow university, went to Nova Scotia with his fam- ily in 1814, and aided his father in business until 1820, when he entered a law-office. In 1826 he was admitted a barrister, and in 1843 he became queen's counsel. He entered into partnership with his brothers, and in 1832 was elected to the Prince Edward island house of assembly. Later, when the island was divided, he sat for Inverness from 1837 till 1859. In 1838 Mr. Young was sent as one of a delegation to Quebec to meet Lord Durham to discuss matters affecting the prosperity of the province. During the session of 1839 Mr. Young was appointed a delegate to represent to the impe- rial government the views of Nova Scotia regard- ing certain reforms, which were accomplished. In 1840 he was active in the demonstrations against Sir Colin Campbell, then lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, which resulted in his recall, and he was equally hostile to his successor, the Viscount Falkland. In 1843 Young was elected speaker of the house of assembly by a majority of two votes. On 8 Feb., 1844, the new house met, when Young, who had been elevated to a seat in the executive council, but had resigned on his appointment to the speakership, was re-elected speaker. In 1847 Sir John Harvey, who succeeded Lord Falkland, proposed a coalition ; but Young opposed the suggestion with his accustomed vigor. A new election was determined upon, in which the reformers were victors, and Young was a third time elected speaker. In the session of 1850 he was appointed on a commission to consolidate and simplify the laws. This is said to have been the first time that an attempt of the sort was ever made in a British colony. In 1854 Mr. Young assumed the office of attorney-general, and formed a ministry, that was defeated shortly afterward, but in 1860 Mr. Young and his party again assumed control of affairs. He became premier and president of the council, and on the death of Chief- Justice Sir Brenton Haliburton in the same year, was appointed to that post. Soon afterward he was created judge of the vice-admiralty, an imperial appointment, and in 1868 he was knighted by the queen. For many years Sir William he was a member of the board of governors of Dalhousie university, Halifax, and chairman of that body. He declined the lieutenant-governorship of Nova Scotia. On 4 May, 1881, he resigned his seat on the bench, and at his death he left the greater part of his wealth to charitable and educational institutions. — Another son, Charles, Canadian jurist, b. in Glasgow, Scotland, 30 April, 1812, studied in Dalhousie college, Halifax, where he took honors, and entered the law-office of his brothers, George and William. In 1838 he was called to the bars of Nova Scotia and of Prince Edward island, and, forming a copartnership with his brothers, practised for several years. On 23 Nov., 1847, he was the first barrister in Prince Edward island to be appointed queen's counsel. At the age of twenty-eight he entered the island house of assembly, and was soon transferred to the legislative council, where he sat for twenty-three years, during ten of which he was its president. In 1851-'2 and 1858-'9 he was attorney-general, and he was also administrator of the government of Prince Edward island for four years. Like his brother William, he was a warm supporter of the policy of responsible government, and he was the first public man in the island to espouse that principle. In 1852 he received his appointment as judge of probate, and