Young, John Russell, 1840-1899

Epithet: American author

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000574.0x000334

Irish American journalist, author, diplomat and Librarian of Congress.

From the description of John Russell Young letters [manuscript], 1867-1891. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 174958754

Journalist, editor, diplomat, and Librarian of Congress.

From the description of John Russell Young papers, circa 1840-1959 (bulk 1858-1898). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79449677

Biographical Note

• 1840, Nov. 20: Born, Dunnamanna, County Tyrone, Ireland
• 1841: Emigrated to U. S. with parents
• 1856: Apprenticed to printing office in Philadelphia, Pa.
• 1861: Private secretary to John W. Forney, Washington, D.C. Published first account of Battle of Bull Run
• 1862: One of the founders of Union League of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
• 1864: Joined staff of General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, Red River Campaign
• 1865: Established Morning Post Joined firm of Jay Cooke & Co.
• 1866 - 1869 : Managing editor, New York Tribune Admitted to New York bar
• 1869 - 1870 : Founded New York Standard
• 1870: Special agent of the secretary of the treasury in Europe.
• 1871: Sent to Europe on confidential mission by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish
• 1872: In Paris, France, where he joined the New York Herald
• 1877: In London, England, where he joined Ulysses S. Grant on world tour
• 1879: Published Around the World with General Grant
• 1882 - 1885 : United States minister to China
• 1888: Sent to London, England, to establish an English edition of New York Herald
• 1891: Director, Union League of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
• 1897: Appointed Librarian of Congress
• 1899, Jan. 17: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the John Russell Young Papers, circa 1840-1959, (bulk 1858-1898), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

John Russell Young (1841-1899) was an American journalist, editor and foreign minister. Born in Tyrone County, Ireland, Young emigrated at early age with his family to Pennsylvania. He served as a U.S. Civil War correspondent and was one of the first to report on the Battle of Bull Run. In 1877, General Grant invited him on an international tour, which spawned his book Around the World with General Grant and also resulted in Young's appointment to the post of minister to China.

In addition to his international work, Young also worked as editor for the New York Tribune, the New York Herald, and was appointed Librarian of Congress in 1897 by President McKinley. He died in 1899.

From the guide to the John Russell Young Correspondence, 1890-1905, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)