A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Young, William Francis
YOUNG. (Lieutenant, 1826.)
William Francis Young, born 1 June, 1804, is son, by Charlotte, daughter of the late General Fyers, R.E., of the late Vice-Admiral Jas. Young,[1] of Barton End, co. Gloucester; and nephew of Admiral Sir Wm. Young, K.C.B., Vice-Admiral of England, who died in 1821.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 3 Feb. 1818; and embarked, in Dec. 1819, on board the Vigo 74, Capt. Thos. Brown, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Robt. Lambert at St. Helena. While on that station he was lent as Midshipman to the Brazen 26, Rosario 10, and Menai 24, the two latter commanded by Capts. Wm. Hendry and Fairfax Moresby. The Menai, while he was in her, was employed off the Isle of France. He returned to England subsequently in the Samarang 28, Capt. John Norman Campbell; but was soon ordered back to the Cape station, where he remained, in the Ariadne 28, Capt. Constantine Rich. Moorsom, until 1824. He then took a passage home from the Mauritius in a sugar-ship, the George the Fourth, for the purpose of passing his examination. During the voyage the latter vessel was caught in a northwest gale and dismasted. After several weeks of suffering the people belonging to her abandoned her, and landed on the coast of Africa, near Mossel Bay, whence they travelled in bullock-waggons to the Cape. Having at length reached home in a merchantman named the Britannia and having accomplished the object he had in view, Mr. Young was nominated Mate of the Glasgow 50, Capt. Hon. Jas. Ashley Maude, on the Lisbon station. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 3 Jan. 1826; was appointed next, 9 Jan. 1827, to the Raleigh 18, Capts. John Windham Dalling, Geo. Haye, and Sir Wm. Dickson, on the Mediterranean station; and from 27 Oct. 1831 until the end of 1834 was there employed in the Britannia 120, Capts. Wm. Jas. Hope Johnstone and Peter Rainier. He has since been on half-pay.
Lieut. Young married, 4 July, 1836, Elizabeth, daughter of the late Josiah Gist, Esq., of Wormington Grange, co. Gloucester, by whom he has issue three daughters.
- ↑ Vice-Admiral (of the White) James Young attained post-rank 5 Oct. 1793, and afterwards commanded the Greyhound, Ethalion, and Pique frigates, and Valiant 74. In the Ethalion he assisted at the capture, in Oct. 1799, of the Thetis and Santa Brigida Spanish frigates, laden with treasure; his own share of which amounted, alone, to 40,730l. 18s. He became a Rear-Admiral 4 June, 1814, and a Vice-Admiral 19 July, 1826. He died 8 March, 1833.