John Young (seigneur)
Encyclopedia
John Young was a seigneur
, businessman, judge and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He may have been born in Scotland
around 1759. Young became a merchant in London
and came to Quebec City
in 1783 to collect debts from a bankrupt firm there on behalf of firms from London and Glasgow
. He entered business there in wholesale and retail sales. The firm expanding rapidly, acquiring ships to transport their goods. It became part owner of Thomas Grant and Company, a distiller
, in 1791. In 1787, Young acquired the seigneury of Vitré. Young's firm purchased part of the seigneury of Beauport in 1792.
In 1792, he was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada
for the Lower Town of Quebec and served until 1808. Young served in the local militia, becoming lieutenant in 1794. He was also named to the Executive Council in 1794. In the same year, Thomas Ainslie
joined Young's firm as a partner. In 1795, Young married Christian (Christiana), Ainslie's daughter. Young acquired Dorset Township in 1799, later selling it to Simon McTavish
. He was a director and later president of the Quebec Fire Society. In 1805, Young introduced a bill in the assembly which created Trinity House
of Quebec with the aim of improving navigation on the Saint Lawrence River
; he was its first master and served in that post until 1812. Young helped found the Union Company of Quebec in 1805 which operated the Union Hotel at Quebec. He also served as a justice of the peace and a judge in the Court of Appeals.
Young's company took advantage of borrowed money to finance its rapid expansion and, later in life, he found it more difficult to deal with his debts. Also, he was not always able to collect money owed to the company. The properties at Beauport were sold to cover debts. However, the household continued to live in the fashion to which it had become accustomed, although in rented quarters. Young died at Quebec City in 1819.
His son Thomas Ainslie Young
also served in the legislative assembly and was named controller of customs at Quebec.
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, businessman, judge and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
He may have been born in 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...
around 1759. Young became a merchant 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...
and came to Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1783 to collect debts from a bankrupt firm there on behalf of firms from London and 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...
. He entered business there in wholesale and retail sales. The firm expanding rapidly, acquiring ships to transport their goods. It became part owner of Thomas Grant and Company, a distiller
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
, in 1791. In 1787, Young acquired the seigneury of Vitré. Young's firm purchased part of the seigneury of Beauport in 1792.
In 1792, he was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada
1st Parliament of Lower Canada
The 1st Parliament of Lower Canada was in session from December 17, 1792 to May 31, 1796. Elections in Lower Canada had been held in June 1792. All sessions were held at Quebec City.- External links :***...
for the Lower Town of Quebec and served until 1808. Young served in the local militia, becoming lieutenant in 1794. He was also named to the Executive Council in 1794. In the same year, Thomas Ainslie
Thomas Ainslie
Thomas Ainslie was a Scottish rugby football player.He was capped eleven times for between 1881-85. He also played for Edinburgh Institute FP/Edinburgh Institution FP.He was the brother of Robert Ainslie who was also capped for Scotland.-References:...
joined Young's firm as a partner. In 1795, Young married Christian (Christiana), Ainslie's daughter. Young acquired Dorset Township in 1799, later selling it to Simon McTavish
Simon McTavish
Simon McTavish was a Scots-Quebecer entrepreneur and the pre-eminent businessman in Canada during the second half of the 18th century.-Biography:...
. He was a director and later president of the Quebec Fire Society. In 1805, Young introduced a bill in the assembly which created Trinity House
Trinity House
The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond is the official General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and other British territorial waters...
of Quebec with the aim of improving navigation on the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
; he was its first master and served in that post until 1812. Young helped found the Union Company of Quebec in 1805 which operated the Union Hotel at Quebec. He also served as a justice of the peace and a judge in the Court of Appeals.
Young's company took advantage of borrowed money to finance its rapid expansion and, later in life, he found it more difficult to deal with his debts. Also, he was not always able to collect money owed to the company. The properties at Beauport were sold to cover debts. However, the household continued to live in the fashion to which it had become accustomed, although in rented quarters. Young died at Quebec City in 1819.
His son Thomas Ainslie Young
Thomas Ainslie Young
Thomas Ainslie Young was an official and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Quebec City in 1797, the son of John Young and grandson of Thomas Ainslie, and studied in Lower Canada and at London...
also served in the legislative assembly and was named controller of customs at Quebec.