Young, Sir John (1807 - 1876)

On 8 April 1835 at Dublin he married Adelaide Annabella Tuite Dalton and represented County Cavan in the House of Commons. He was Lord of the Treasury in 1841-44 and Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1852-55. In 1855 he was created GCMG and appointed Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. On 18 January 1861 he was appointed to succeed Sir William Denison as governor of New South Wales and arrived in Sydney on 21 March.

His term of office was at times controversial but he was admired for his intelligence and grasp of political subjects. He worked for the Sydney Ragged Schools, the Society for the Relief of Destitute Children, the Sydney Female Refuge Society, the Female School of Industry and the House of the Good Shepherd. Although a devout Anglican he espoused nonsectarian tolerance, annoying some Protestants.

Young left Sydney on 24 December 1867 and returned to England and in 1869 was appointed Governor General of Canada. In November 1870 he was created Baron Lisgar of Lisgar and Bailieborough, County Cavan. Ill health forced his retirement in 1872 and he died four years later, leaving no children. The town of Lambing Flat in New South Wales was renamed Young in his honour.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]

• Ward, John M., 'Young, Sir John (1807 - 1876)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060488b.htm. [ Details... ]