Alexander Young (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Young was born December 14, 1833 in Blackburn
, Scotland
.
He started as a mechanical engineering and machinist apprentice for Alexander Chaplin & Co., in Glasgow
, and then Anderson & Co. in London
.
He married Ruth Pearce in early 1860 and traveled to Vancouver Island
on August 26, 1860 to construct a sawmill. After a few years the two (with one child) traveled to Hawaii in February 1865. They had a total of nine surviving children.
Young had operated a small foundry and machine shop in Hilo, Hawaii with William Lidgate, and business expanded with the growth of sugarcane
plantations. He moved to Honolulu around 1869
and bought out Thomas Hughes' shared of the Honolulu Iron Works.
In 1875 Theophilus Harris Davies
refinanced the Honolulu Iron Works and hired Young as manager.
The two then organized the Waiakea Mill Company.
Around 1900 he formed the von Hamm-Young Company. Principals were Young’s son Archibald Alfred Young and son-in-law Conrad Carl von Hamm. An early project was the Alexander Young Hotel.
In 1887 he became a citizen of the Kingdom of Hawaii
, and from 1887-1892 served in the House of Nobles
. After the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, he served on an advisory council for the provisional Government of Hawaii
. From October 27, 1899 to May 18, 1900 he served as Minister of the Interior until the Territory of Hawaii
government was established.
After Young's death July 2, 1910 and Archibald's in 1925, von Hamm took over the business. It expanded to include automobile dealerships in the 1920s and other businesses. In 1964 it was renamed "The Hawaii Corporation". After von Hamm's death in 1965 the company eventually liquidated in one of Hawaii's first large bankruptcy cases.
Blackburn, West Lothian
Blackburn is a town in West Lothian, Scotland next to Bathgate and five miles from Livingston. It is situated about from Edinburgh along the old A8 road between Edinburgh and Glasgow.- History :...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
He started as a mechanical engineering and machinist apprentice for Alexander Chaplin & Co., in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and then Anderson & Co. in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
He married Ruth Pearce in early 1860 and traveled to Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
on August 26, 1860 to construct a sawmill. After a few years the two (with one child) traveled to Hawaii in February 1865. They had a total of nine surviving children.
Young had operated a small foundry and machine shop in Hilo, Hawaii with William Lidgate, and business expanded with the growth of sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
plantations. He moved to Honolulu around 1869
and bought out Thomas Hughes' shared of the Honolulu Iron Works.
In 1875 Theophilus Harris Davies
Theophilus Harris Davies
-Life:Davies was born January 4, 1833, the son of a minister.He was recruited in England to join the firm of Janion, Green & Co. in Hawaii, a successor to Starkey, Janion & Co., formed in 1845.Partners were Robert Cheshire Janion and William Lowthian Green....
refinanced the Honolulu Iron Works and hired Young as manager.
The two then organized the Waiakea Mill Company.
Around 1900 he formed the von Hamm-Young Company. Principals were Young’s son Archibald Alfred Young and son-in-law Conrad Carl von Hamm. An early project was the Alexander Young Hotel.
In 1887 he became a citizen of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
, and from 1887-1892 served in the House of Nobles
Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom was the bicameral legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii. A royal legislature was first provided by the 1840 Constitution and the 1852 Constitution was the first to use the term "Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom", and the first to subject the monarch to...
. After the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, he served on an advisory council for the provisional Government of Hawaii
Provisional Government of Hawaii
The Provisional Government of Hawaii abbreviated "P.G." was proclaimed on January 17, 1893 by the 13 member Committee of Safety under the leadership of Sanford B. Dole...
. From October 27, 1899 to May 18, 1900 he served as Minister of the Interior until the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
government was established.
After Young's death July 2, 1910 and Archibald's in 1925, von Hamm took over the business. It expanded to include automobile dealerships in the 1920s and other businesses. In 1964 it was renamed "The Hawaii Corporation". After von Hamm's death in 1965 the company eventually liquidated in one of Hawaii's first large bankruptcy cases.