Letters and papers of Sir Frederick Young

The largest part of the collection is comprised of correspondence on a range of topics, notably the empire and imperial federation. The papers also include an autobiography, Sir Frederick's speeches and pamphlets, press cuttings and other material relating to Young's life and career.

Sir Frederick Young (1817-1913), K.C.M.G., was born on 21 June 1817 in Limehouse, London, the son of George Frederick Young, M.P. He was educated in Homerton before becoming a merchant in London. In 1869 he began an association with the Royal Colonial Institute that was to last for the rest of his life and saw him become the Institute's Vice-President and Honorary Secretary. Young served as a J.P. and Deputy-Lieutenant. He promoted the permanent union of the colonies with the Mother Country and published works on imperial federation and the empire. He also travelled widely, visiting Canada, Greece, South Africa and Turkey. He died on 9 November 1913.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Presented by Ethel Young, granddaughter of Sir Frederick Young, 1936, with the exception of RCMS 54/2/7, presented by J.R. Boosé, 1915-1916, and Evans Lewin, c. 1916; RCMS 54/2/6 and 54/6/1-2, added to the collection, 1978; and RCMS 54/6/4 and the photocopied letter in RCMS 54/2/7, presented by Jay Underwood, 2005.

Includes index.

MSS 11c99y

MSS Addenda, vol. I; Donald H. Simpson, ed., 'The manuscript catalogue of the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (London, 1975), p. 49 and 50. A brief description of the papers is with the collection.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

The R.C.S. Manuscripts Collection includes a memoir of Sir Frederick Young, RCMS 55. Some letters addressed to Sir Frederick Young as Secretary of the Royal Colonial Institute, and not of a personal nature, form part of the main collection of R.C.S. autograph letters.

This collection level description was created by RAS using information from the original typescript catalogue and Donald Simpson's R.C.S. catalogue. The biographical history was compiled with reference to the enry on Sir Frederick Young in 'Who was who', vol. I, 1897-1915 (London, 1966), p. 787.

Young, Sir, Frederick, 1817-1913, Knight, traveller and writer on imperial affairs