John Young

Who was John Young?

John Young was an American politician.

He was born in Chelsea, Vermont. As a child, he moved to Freeport, Livingston County, New York. He had only basic schooling but, by self-study accumulated a knowledge of classics and became a law clerk, becoming admitted to the bar in 1829. He entered politics as a Jacksonian Democrat, but shortly afterward joined the Anti-Masonic Party. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1832.

Young was elected as a Whig to the 24th United States Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Philo C. Fuller, holding office from November 1836 to March 3, 1837. He was again elected to the 27th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1843.

He was again a member of the State Assembly in 1845 and 1846, and was urged to run on the Whig ticket against the incumbent Governor Silas Wright. He unseated Wright, and was Governor of New York from January 1847 until the end of 1848.

In 1848, he became a strong supporter of Zachary Taylor's candidacy for President of the United States and was rewarded, after Taylor's victory, by appointment as Assistant Treasurer of the United States in New York City. He served in the latter post until his death from tuberculosis at the age of 49.