Andrew Young (d. 1623)

Andrew Young (d. 1623) was appointed Public Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh University in 1620.

Biography

‘Born of mean parents nigh to Jedburgh’, Young studied under Henry Charteris (c1565–1628) at Edinburgh University and graduated MA in July 1598. He went to work as regent at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and in 1600 competed in a public trial for a vacant Regentship at Edinburgh. He was unsuccessful but the Town Council promised to hold the next vacancy open for him. He was accordingly appointed regent at Edinburgh in December 1601 following the resignation of William Craig. He became one of the University’s longest-serving regents, accompanying classes through to laureation in 1603, 1607, 1609, 1613, 1617, and 1621. According to Thomas Craufurd, this was a 'flourishing time of the Universitie’, as Young and his fellow regents were 'both able and painful [i.e. conscientious]'. They acquired ‘much authority’ through the combination of 'long experience' and 'knowledge'. As the country itself was enjoying 'a deep calme of peace', the 'followers of learning' were offered 'many great occasions of encouragement'. On 19 July 1617, Young was one of the regents commanded by King James to participate in a disputation before him at Stirling Castle. Young disputed upon the Aristotelian theory of Local Motion, prompting the King to pun that 'Mr. Young is very old in Aristotle'. In 1620, Young was appointed Public Professor of Mathematics, which required him to give two public lectures a week, in addition to his duties as Regent of Philosophy. At the same time Andrew Ramsay was appointed Professor of Divinity and Young's long-standing colleague James Reid was appointed Public Professor of Metaphysics. This was a small but significant step towards specialization and the creation of a faculty system. Young died in office in 1623.

Archives at Edinburgh University

• Signatures, 29 July 1598 (as student), 29 July 1603, 25 July 1607, 27 July 1609, 31 July 1613, 30 June 1617, 14 July 1621 (as regent), First Laureation & Degrees Album, Edinburgh University Archives (EUA IN1/ADS/STA/1/1)

Sources

• A Catalogue of the Graduates in the Faculties of Arts, Divinity, and Law, of the University of Edinburgh since its Foundation (Edinburgh: Printed by Neill and Company, 1858)
• Thomas Craufurd, History of the University of Edinburgh, from 1580 to 1646: To Which is Prefixed the Charter Granted to the College by James VI of Scotland, in 1582 (Edinburgh: Printed by A. Neill & Co., 1808)
• Sir Alexander Grant, The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years, 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884)