Young, Arthur 1741-1820
Archival location guide — where this economist’s surviving papers are held, their notable correspondents, and key published sources.
Born 1741 · died 1820
Arthur Young FRS was an English agriculturist. Not himself successful as a farmer, he built on connections and activities as a publicist a substantial reputation as an expert on agricultural improvement. After the French Revolution of 1789, his views on its politics carried weight as an informed observer, and he became an important opponent of British reformers.
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Eight volumes of correspondence, 1743-1820, mainly letters to Young, but also c. 100 out-letters. The manuscripts for his unpublished treatise, the `Elements and Practice of Agriculture’. BL Add. MSS. 34821-34864, 35126-35133.
A few items of family correspondence, including 15 letters from his son, the Rev. Arthur Young, mainly to Young himself. Also 11 leaves of his autobiography which did not appear in the published version. Bagshawe Muniments, Manchester JR.UL
13 letters, 1770-1802, and volumes of minutes which reflect Young's work for the Royal Society of Arts. Royal Society of Arts Library, London.
The manuscripts of the Board of Agriculture include letters of Young, and minute books from his period with the Board. Royal Agricultural Society of England, Kenilworth.
Correspondents
SIR JOSEPH BANKS, six letters, 1789-1791. Royal Botanic Gardens Library, Kew.
SIR JOSEPH BANKS, 26 letters, 1786-1799. Yale UL
SIR JOSEPH BANKS, eight letters, 1789-1804. California State Library, Sutro Branch.
JEREMY BENTHAM, eight letters, 1794-1797. BL Add. MSS. 33541, 33542.
SIR JAMES CALDWELL, six letters, 1772-1779. Bagshawe Muniments, Manchester JRUL
MARIANNE FRANCIS, c. 100 letters, 1811-1820. Burney papers, Berg collection, New York Public Library.
GEORGE O’ BRIEN, 3rd Earl of Egremont, 26 letters, 1793-1815. Petworth House Archives, National Register of Archives (NRA) 15719.
WILLIAM PITT the Younger, five letters, 1796-1799. Chatham papers, Public Record Office (PRO)
THOMAS RUGGLES, 12 letters, 1795-1811. Ruggles-Brise papers, NRA 1019.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, six letters, 1786-1794. Washington papers, Library of Congress.
PHILIP YORKE, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke, ten letters, 1799-1819. BL Add. MSS. 35643-35700.
Printed Material
The Autobiography of Arthur Young with Selections from his Correspondence , ed. M. Betham-Edwards ( London, 1898).
New Palgrave; ODNB; ESS xv 515.
Portraits: BL (P); NPG