Author: Young, Edward
Biography:
YOUNG, Edward (1683-1765: ODNB)
Edward Young is a “prior” author constantly reprinted during the period who earns his place in this bibliography by his influence on generations of English poets and by the presence of a few collections that combined his work with that of authors published for the first time in 1770 or later. Young’s long literary career began slowly as he struggled to establish himself with a reliable income. He was baptised at Upham near Winchester on 3 Jul. 1683, the son of the Rev. Edward Young and his wife Judith; attended Winchester School and then, after a few false starts at Oxford, settled at All Souls from 1708 to 1730 (LLB 1714, LLD 1719). At the same time he cultivated potential patrons and joined in literary circles in London. Notable friendships were with Addison, Steele, Thomson, and later Richardson; Boswell and Johnson visited him and admired his work. He published extensively, mainly poetry and drama. The Universal Passion, published in parts 1725-8 and collected as Love of Fame, the Universal Passion in 1728, finally won him an a pension of £200 in 1726. Young was ordained deacon in 1724 and priest in 1728, but it was only after securing a lucrative living in the gift of All Souls in July 1730 that he was able to marry, secretly, on 4 Aug. 1730. His wife was a widowed aristocrat with three children, Lady Elizabeth Lee (1694-1740); the couple settled at Welwyn, his parish, and had one son, Frederick, whose godfather was the Prince of Wales. Young’s Poetical Works appeared in two volumes in 1741. From 1742 to 1746 he then issued the nine parts of his most important and long-lasting work, the blank-verse Complaint, or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality, which was widely reprinted and translated in the following decades. To stem a tide of piracies Young supervised an authorized edition of his works in four volumes in 1757. He died at Welwyn on 5 Apr. 1765 and on 12 Apr. was buried in the chancel of his church, St. Mary’s, alongside his wife. (ODNB 28 Mar. 2022; findmypast.com 27 Mar. 2022)
Other Names:
- Young