Sir William Young, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
William Young was a British colonial governor, politician and sugar plantation owner. He was the governor of Grenada in 1776 and British Guiana from 8 March 1777–3 April 1777 and Tobago
from 1807 – January 1815.
He was also the Member of Parliament for St Mawes
,
19 June 1784 – 3 November 1806, and Buckingham
, 5 November 1806 – 23 March 1807.
, then in Kent, now Greater London, in December 1749, the eldest son of Sir William Young, 1st Baronet
(1724/5–1788), governor of Dominica, and his second wife, Elizabeth (1729–1801). His siblings included Sarah Elizabeth, Portia, Elizabeth, Mary, Henry, John, and Olivia. As a child, he and ten other family members were featured in the oil on canvas painting, The Family of Sir William Young, Baronet (ca.1766) by Johan Zoffany. He enrolled at Clare College, Cambridge
in 1767 but transferred to University College, Oxford
, on 26 November 1768. After graduating he travelled France and Italy and documented his travels. In 1777, he published The spirit of Athens, an acclaimed insight into the political and philosophical history of Greece.
to represent them in the French court to settle territorial disputes. He returned to England in 1784 where he settled and became an MP for St Mawes
, Cornwall from 19 June, a seat which he held until 3 November 1806, when he was appointed for Buckingham. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
in 1786 and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1791. In 1788, his father died and passed on four sugar plantations to his son—one in Antigua, two in St Vincent, and one in Tobago—and a total of 896 African slaves. His father had also been seriously in debt and left a sum of around £110,000 (£ in pounds) for his son to pay off. A secretary to the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa, Young spoke regular in parliament on poor-law reform, income tax
, the slave trade, union with Ireland, foreign and colonial policy, and parliamentary reform.
On 30 October 1791, Young took a vacation from British politics and departed on a trip for several months in which he explored Barbados, St Vincent, Tobago, and Grenada, failing to save his plantations from bankruptcy and learn about the sugar industry and slave trade in the West Indies. He later documented part of his travels in the appendix of the second edition of An Historical Survey of the Island of Saint Domingo by Bryan Edwards
in 1801, a book in which he also served as chief editor. Notable works also included The rights of Englishmen, or, The British constitution of government compared with that of a democratic republic (1793); Considerations on Poorhouses and Workhouses: their Pernicious Tendency (1796), Instructions for the Armed Yeomanry (1797) and The West Indian Commonplace Book (1807).
Young had reportedly been extremely well treated by his slaves, presenting him with gifts and putting on festivities for him. On returning home to England to resume his MP duties for St Mawes in 1792, he joined William Wilberforce
and his fellows in the movement for the Abolition of the slave trade. In 1807, he was appointed Governor of Tobago, a post which he retained until his death in January 1815. He died on 10 January 1815 at Government House, Tobago.
. She survived Young, dying 15 years later after his death in 1830.
Tobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
from 1807 – January 1815.
He was also the Member of Parliament for St Mawes
St Mawes (UK Parliament constituency)
St Mawes was a rotten borough in Cornwall. It returned two Members of Parliament ) to the House of Commons of England from 1562 to 1707, to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until it was abolished by the Great Reform Act in...
,
19 June 1784 – 3 November 1806, and Buckingham
Buckingham (UK Parliament constituency)
Buckingham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, 5 November 1806 – 23 March 1807.
Early years
Young was born in CharltonCharlton, London
Charlton is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Greenwich. It is located east-southeast of Charing Cross. Charlton next Woolwich was an ancient parish in the county of Kent, which became part of the metropolitan area of London in 1855. It is home to Charlton...
, then in Kent, now Greater London, in December 1749, the eldest son of Sir William Young, 1st Baronet
Sir William Young, 1st Baronet
Sir William Young, 1st Baronet was a British politician and sugar plantation owner. He served as President of the Commission for the Sale of Lands in the Ceded Islands, and was appointed the first colonial governor to Dominica in 1770....
(1724/5–1788), governor of Dominica, and his second wife, Elizabeth (1729–1801). His siblings included Sarah Elizabeth, Portia, Elizabeth, Mary, Henry, John, and Olivia. As a child, he and ten other family members were featured in the oil on canvas painting, The Family of Sir William Young, Baronet (ca.1766) by Johan Zoffany. He enrolled at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
in 1767 but transferred to University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, on 26 November 1768. After graduating he travelled France and Italy and documented his travels. In 1777, he published The spirit of Athens, an acclaimed insight into the political and philosophical history of Greece.
Career
Young was brief governor of Grenada in 1776 and British Guiana 8 March 1777 – 3 April 1777. In 1782, Young he was appointed by the proprietors of the colony of TobagoTobago
Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the southern Caribbean, northeast of the island of Trinidad and southeast of Grenada. The island lies outside the hurricane belt...
to represent them in the French court to settle territorial disputes. He returned to England in 1784 where he settled and became an MP for St Mawes
St Mawes
St Mawes is a small town opposite Falmouth, on the Roseland Peninsula on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It lies on the east bank of the Carrick Roads, a large waterway created after the Ice Age from an ancient valley which flooded as the melt waters caused the sea level to...
, Cornwall from 19 June, a seat which he held until 3 November 1806, when he was appointed for Buckingham. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1786 and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries can refer to:*Society of Antiquaries of London*Society of Antiquaries of Scotland*Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne*Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland...
in 1791. In 1788, his father died and passed on four sugar plantations to his son—one in Antigua, two in St Vincent, and one in Tobago—and a total of 896 African slaves. His father had also been seriously in debt and left a sum of around £110,000 (£ in pounds) for his son to pay off. A secretary to the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa, Young spoke regular in parliament on poor-law reform, income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
, the slave trade, union with Ireland, foreign and colonial policy, and parliamentary reform.
On 30 October 1791, Young took a vacation from British politics and departed on a trip for several months in which he explored Barbados, St Vincent, Tobago, and Grenada, failing to save his plantations from bankruptcy and learn about the sugar industry and slave trade in the West Indies. He later documented part of his travels in the appendix of the second edition of An Historical Survey of the Island of Saint Domingo by Bryan Edwards
Bryan Edwards
Bryan Edwards, FRS was an English politician and historian born in Westbury, Wiltshire. Edwards supported the slave trade, and was described by abolitionist William Wilberforce as a powerful opponent.-Life:...
in 1801, a book in which he also served as chief editor. Notable works also included The rights of Englishmen, or, The British constitution of government compared with that of a democratic republic (1793); Considerations on Poorhouses and Workhouses: their Pernicious Tendency (1796), Instructions for the Armed Yeomanry (1797) and The West Indian Commonplace Book (1807).
Young had reportedly been extremely well treated by his slaves, presenting him with gifts and putting on festivities for him. On returning home to England to resume his MP duties for St Mawes in 1792, he joined William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce was a British politician, a philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming the independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire...
and his fellows in the movement for the Abolition of the slave trade. In 1807, he was appointed Governor of Tobago, a post which he retained until his death in January 1815. He died on 10 January 1815 at Government House, Tobago.
Personal life
On 12 August 1777, he married Sarah at St George the Martyr, Queen Square, London, the daughter and coheir of Charles Lawrence and his wife, Mary. They had four sons and two daughters. Sarah died in 1791 and Young remarried on 22 April 1793 at St George, Hanover Square, London, to Barbara, the daughter of Colonel Richard Talbot and his wife, Margaret, later Baroness Talbot of Malahide. Sarah's uncle was Peter Talbot, Archbishop of DublinArchbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Church of Ireland has a similar role, heading the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. In both cases, the Archbishop is also Primate of Ireland...
. She survived Young, dying 15 years later after his death in 1830.