John Russell Young (November 20, 1840 – January 17, 1899[1]) was an American journalist, author, diplomat, and the seventh Librarian of the United States Congress from 1897 to 1899. He was invited by Ulysses S. Grant to accompany him on a world tour for purposes of recording the two-year journey, which he published in a two-volume work.
Young was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, but as a young child his family emigrated to Philadelphia. He entered the newspaper business as a proofreader at age 15. As a reporter for the Philadelphia Press, he distinguished himself with his coverage of the First Battle of Bull Run. By 1862 he was managing editor of the Press and another newspaper.
Young was invited to accompany President Ulysses S. Grant on Grant's famous 1877-1879 world tour, chronicled in Young's book Around the World with General Grant.[2][3] Young impressed Grant, especially in China where Young struck up a friendship with Li Hongzhang. Grant persuaded President Chester A. Arthur to appoint Young minister to China in 1882. In this position he distinguished himself by mediating and settling disputes between the US and China and France and China. Unlike many other diplomats, he opposed the policy of removing Korea from Chinese suzerainty.
In 1885 he resumed working for the Herald in Europe. In 1890 he returned to Philadelphia. In 1897 President William McKinley appointed him Librarian of Congress, the first librarian confirmed by Congress. During his tenure, the library began moving from its original home in the US Capitol Building to its own structure, an accomplishment largely the responsibility of his predecessor, Ainsworth Rand Spofford. Spofford served as Chief Assistant Librarian under Young. Young held the post of librarian until his death.
He died in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 1899, and is interred at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"New Life in China" The North American Review, vol. 153 (1891) pp. 420-431.
"The Chinese Question Again" The North American Review, vol. 154 (1892) pp. 596-602.
References
^Dictionary of American Library Biography. (1978). Bohdan Wynar, ed. "Young, John Russell (1840-1899)." Littleton, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited. p. 584-586. ISBN0-87287-180-0
^[WorldCat.org]. www.worldcat.org. OCLC 978533796. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
^"Catalog Record: Around the world with General Grant | HathiTrust Digital Library". catalog.hathitrust.org. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
John Y. Cole (March 30, 2006). "Jefferson's Legacy: A Brief History of the Library of Congress -- Librarians of Congress". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
External links
Media related to John Russell Young at Wikimedia Commons
john, russell, young, nephew, politician, politician, further, information, world, tour, ulysses, grant, november, 1840, january, 1899, american, journalist, author, diplomat, seventh, librarian, united, states, congress, from, 1897, 1899, invited, ulysses, gr. For his nephew the politician see John Russell Young politician Further information World tour of Ulysses S Grant John Russell Young November 20 1840 January 17 1899 1 was an American journalist author diplomat and the seventh Librarian of the United States Congress from 1897 to 1899 He was invited by Ulysses S Grant to accompany him on a world tour for purposes of recording the two year journey which he published in a two volume work John Russell Young7th Librarian of CongressIn office July 1 1897 January 17 1899Appointed byWilliam McKinleyPreceded byAinsworth Rand SpoffordSucceeded byHerbert PutnamUnited States Minister to the Qing EmpireIn office August 17 1882 April 7 1885Appointed byRutherford B HayesPreceded byJames Burrill AngellSucceeded byCharles Harvey DenbyPersonal detailsBorn 1840 11 20 November 20 1840County Tyrone IrelandDiedJanuary 17 1899 1899 01 17 aged 58 Washington D C U S NationalityAmericanRelativesJames Rankin Young brotherKnown forJournalist author diplomat librarian Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 Works partial list 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditYoung was born in County Tyrone Ireland but as a young child his family emigrated to Philadelphia He entered the newspaper business as a proofreader at age 15 As a reporter for the Philadelphia Press he distinguished himself with his coverage of the First Battle of Bull Run By 1862 he was managing editor of the Press and another newspaper In 1865 he moved to New York where he became a close friend of Henry George and helped to distribute Progress and Poverty He began writing for Horace Greeley s New York Tribune and became managing editor of that paper He also began working for the government undertaking missions to Europe for the US Department of State and the US Department of the Treasury In 1872 he joined the New York Herald and reported for them from Europe John Russell YoungIllustrated Portrait 1888 Young was invited to accompany President Ulysses S Grant on Grant s famous 1877 1879 world tour chronicled in Young s book Around the World with General Grant 2 3 Young impressed Grant especially in China where Young struck up a friendship with Li Hongzhang Grant persuaded President Chester A Arthur to appoint Young minister to China in 1882 In this position he distinguished himself by mediating and settling disputes between the US and China and France and China Unlike many other diplomats he opposed the policy of removing Korea from Chinese suzerainty In 1885 he resumed working for the Herald in Europe In 1890 he returned to Philadelphia In 1897 President William McKinley appointed him Librarian of Congress the first librarian confirmed by Congress During his tenure the library began moving from its original home in the US Capitol Building to its own structure an accomplishment largely the responsibility of his predecessor Ainsworth Rand Spofford Spofford served as Chief Assistant Librarian under Young Young held the post of librarian until his death He died in Washington D C on January 17 1899 and is interred at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia Pennsylvania His brother was Congressman James Rankin Young His son was Brig Gen Gordon Russell Young who was Engineer Commission of the District of Columbia from 1945 1951 and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit See also Edit Biography portal Politics portalBibliography of Ulysses S GrantWorks partial list Edit New Life in China The North American Review vol 153 1891 pp 420 431 The Chinese Question Again The North American Review vol 154 1892 pp 596 602 References Edit Dictionary of American Library Biography 1978 Bohdan Wynar ed Young John Russell 1840 1899 Littleton Colorado Libraries Unlimited p 584 586 ISBN 0 87287 180 0 WorldCat org www worldcat org OCLC 978533796 Retrieved August 10 2022 Catalog Record Around the world with General Grant HathiTrust Digital Library catalog hathitrust org Retrieved August 10 2022 John Y Cole March 30 2006 Jefferson s Legacy A Brief History of the Library of Congress Librarians of Congress Library of Congress Retrieved December 15 2008 External links Edit Media related to John Russell Young at Wikimedia Commons John Russell Young at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Russell Young amp oldid 1134476896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
