Young, Jess (fl. 1875 - 80)

W. E. P. (Ernest) Giles in his notable book Australia Twice Traversed; The Romance of Exploration (1889) mentions Young several times and on p. 131 refers to ‘Mr Jess Young, a young friend of Sir Thomas Elder, lately arrived from England.’  Young accompanied Giles on the latter’s 4th expedition in 1875 across Australia, which left Beltana, S.A., on 6 May and arrived in Perth, WA., on 13 November .  Giles does not indicate whether ‘Jess’ is Young’s full given name or an abbreviation.  

Eucalyptus youngiana occurs on the route taken by this expedition; the type label of E. salubris carries the inscription ‘Inter Victoria Spring et Ularing’ and lists Young as the collector. Queen Victoria Spring is a well-known locality in exploration history and is c. 210 km east of Kalgoorlie, WA., whilst Ularring (this spelling as in Map and Gazetteer of Western Australia (1970)) is c. 130 km north-east of the same city. A syntype of E. youngiana also came from the Queen Victoria Spring area (usually shortened to Victoria Spring in many accounts of early exploration).  In the National Herbarium, Melbourne, there are specimens of Acacia collected by Young in the period 1875-80.

He is honoured in the name Eucalyptus youngiana F. Muell. (1876) and was also collector of a syntype.