YOUNG, John, governor of New York, born in Chelsea, Vermont, 12 June, 1802; died in New York city, 23 April, 1852. He was taken in early life to Conesus, Livingston County, New York, received a common-school education, taught himself the classics, was a teacher for several years, studied law in Geneseo, was admitted to the bar in 1827, and attained a high reputation, especially as a jury lawyer. Early in life he engaged in politics, supporting Andrew Jackson in 1828, and in the following year attaching himself to the anti-Masonic party, by which he was elected to the legislature in 1832. He was elected to congress as a Whig in 1836, and served from 4 December of that year till 3 March, 1837. He declined a re-election for the following term, but was again put in nomination in 1840, and was elected, took his seat when congress was called together in extra session on 31 May, 1841, and served till 3 March, 1843. He was elected to the legislature in 1844, became leader of the Whigs, and carried through the bill for a constitutional convention, with the aid of the Hunker or Radical Democratic vote. He was re-elected in 1845, acquired great popularity as the champion of the anti-renters, received the Whig nomination for governor in 1846, and was elected, He condemned the Mexican war in his messages, and sanctioned resolutions of the legislature in favor of excluding slavery from the territory that had been acquired from Mexico. He supported Henry Clay's candidacy in the Whig national convention of 1848. In July, 1849, he was appointed assistant treasurer of the United States in New York city.