Andrew Young (d. 1623)
160014th Febnury following, the Towii*CounciI, rememberiiigMr'Rollock's recoininendation im- mediatly before his death, of Mr Henry Char- teris, (who now had regented almost 10 yeara^ as most fit to succeed to him, elected him to be Principal of the CoUedge. His class va- kaing, a publick dispute was indicted by pro* gram. Two compeared for tiyal, Mr Robert Scot, laureatofttto 1597. and Mr Andrew Youn^ bom of mean parents nigh to Jedbuigh, laureat anno 1 598, and at that same time entered R^ent of an Philosophie Classe in Aberdeen. Both were well approven. The judges, for diverse re- spects, chose Mr Robert Scot for the presently vaking charge. Mr Andrew Young, besides an honorary for his pains, was appointed to succeed to the next decedent. At the same time, Mr Charles Ferme beiqg removed to IVa- serburgfa, Mr James Knctx succeeded to him according to the former appointment. ~
1601In December following^ Mr William Crage dimitted his charge and went to France, where ps waa elected Professor of Divinity in the CoUedge of, Saumure, in the which profession he died not many years after with much re- grate : returning home to Scotland, he died in in his own house in Blackfriers Wynd. Mr Andrew Youii|^ upon his dimission, was call- ed from Aberdeen, and set over the chai^ of Ifhe class left by him.
1608.
, Although (for the reason newly spoken of)
there "trete no candidats to be graduated, yet
this wias a most flouriihing time of the Unver-
sitie,
iM,Googlc
68 HISTOar OF TUB
sitie, the present Regents, Mx Andrew Youag, Mr James Reid, Mr James Fairly, and Mr Wil- liam King, being both able and painfull; and withall they did ^ot change for a long time ' thereafter, which did conciliat much authority to them throw their long experience, added to their knowledge. The country- likeways at this* time haying a deep calme of peace, swinAned in plenty of all things, and many great occa- sions of encouragement were set before the fol- lowers of learning.
In 1620 they appointed Andrew Young to be "Public Professor of Mathematics " in addition to his duties as Regent of Philosophy (see Vol I. p. 203). It is possible that Napier had made a suggestion on this subject ; at all events he took an interest in it, for on the 17th August 162 1 the Town Council paid for the carriage from London of a quadrant which Napier (the year before his death) presented to the College "for the Professor of Mathematics."
Young, having graduated in Edinburgh, had gone to serve as Regent in Marischall College, which was always a good school of Mathematics, and he may have picked up something there. He must certainly have had a reputation for mathematical
^ From Professor Chrystal's (unpublished) Inaugural Address. Most of the above facts and estimates relative to the Professors of Mathematics are taken from that Address. Unless otherwise specified, the passages quoted are all from Professor Chrystal.
294 THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSITY. [1668.
knowledge. He came back to Edinburgh as Regent in 1601. When appointed " Professor of Mathematics " he had to give two public lectures a week, but what they consisted in we know not He died in 1 6 2 3, after three years' performance of these new duties.
" Mr. Young who disputed next,' insisted upon the Nature of Local Motion, pressing many things by clear testimonies of Aristotle's text To which, when the defender made his answers and cleared the purpose, the King said to some English Doctors which were near to him, * These men know Aristotle's mind as well as himself did while he lived.'
not barren, for certainly he hath shewen a fertile wit Mr. Young is very old in Aristotle.