Arthur Young (divine) facts for kids
Arthur Young (born 1693, died 1759) was an English clergyman. This means he was a leader in the Church of England. He was also a writer who focused on religious topics. He often wrote about what he saw as "idolatrous corruptions" in old religions.
Arthur Young's Life Story
Arthur Young was born in 1693. His father was Bartholomew Young, who lived in a place called Bradfield Combust in Suffolk, England.
Arthur went to Pembroke Hall, Cambridge for his education. He earned a law degree (LL.B.) in 1716. Later, in 1728, he received a higher law degree (LL.D.).
In 1719, he became the rector for two churches: Bradfield Combust and Bradfield St Clare. A rector is a type of clergyman who leads a church.
Later, in 1746, he became a "prebendary" of Canterbury. This was a special position within the church. In 1748, he also became the vicar of Exning in Suffolk. A vicar is another type of church leader. He was allowed to hold both positions at the same time.
Arthur Young also served as a chaplain to Arthur Onslow. A chaplain is a minister who serves a specific group or person. Arthur Onslow was the Speaker of the House of Commons. This means he was the main leader of the British Parliament's lower house. Young was also a Justice of the Peace for Suffolk. This role meant he helped keep law and order in the area.
Arthur Young passed away on June 26, 1759. He died at Bradfield Combust, where he had inherited land from his father.
Arthur Young's Family
Arthur Young married a woman named Anna Lucretia. She was the daughter of John Coussmaker from Weybridge, Surrey.
They had two sons, named John and Arthur. They also had a daughter named Elizabeth Mary. She later married John Tomlinson.
Their older son, John Young, was a fellow at Eton College. Sadly, he had an accident in 1786 while hunting with King George III.
Their younger son, also named Arthur, became quite famous. In 1793, he was chosen to be the Secretary for the new Board of Agriculture. This board helped improve farming in Britain.
Arthur Young's Writings
Arthur Young was known for his religious writings. Here are some of his important books:
- An Historical Dissertation on Idolatrous Corruptions in Religion from the Beginning of the World, and on the Methods taken by Divine Providence in reforming them (1734): In this two-volume book, Young tried to explain how Judaism and Christianity grew. He wrote about how these religions replaced older practices that he called "idolatry." Idolatry means worshipping idols or false gods.
- A Dissertation on the Gospel Demoniacks (1760): This book was published after his death. Young wrote it because of a discussion about miracles. It was a response to ideas from Richard Smalbroke, who was a bishop, and Thomas Woolston, another writer. The book discusses the idea of "demoniacks" mentioned in the Gospels.
