Young was appointed Governor of New South Wales in 1860 and was immediately confronted by a crisis stemming from the attempt by the Secretary for Lands, John Robertson, to push radical[clarification needed]land legislation through the Parliament. This legislation was passionately opposed by the majority of the Legislative Council. Young agreed to the request of the Premier, Charles Cowper, to swamp the council with new 21 appointees to get the legislation through, although in fact sufficient members of the Council resigned that a quorum could not be formed, forcing it to be prorogued and replaced by a new Council with appointed life members. In due course this passed the land legislation. The rest of his term in New South Wales was less eventful.[1]
Young assumed the office of Governor General of Canada in 1868, when it was vacated by fellow Irishman, the 4th Viscount Monck, but did not officially take up the position until his swearing in on 2 February 1869. After the end of his term in 1872, he returned to Ireland.
He was raised to the peerage as Baron Lisgar, of Lisgar and Bailieborough, in the County of Cavan, on 26 October 1870.[3]
He died on 6 October 1876 at Lisgar House (also known as Castle House), near Bailieborough in County Cavan, Ireland, survived by his wife.[1] Although Lady Lisgar married once more, she and Lord Lisgar are buried in Bailieborough Church of Ireland Graveyard, Bailieborough, County Cavan.
John Young married, on 8 April 1835, Adelaide Annabella Dalton, daughter of Edward Tuite Dalton of Fermor, County Meath, Ireland, and his wife, Olivia, daughter of Sir John Stevenson (who married, secondly, The 2nd Marquess of Headfort, K.P., P.C.). Dalton's date of birth is unknown however she was likely to have been born between 1811 and 1814. Her husband was raised to the peerage, as Baron Lisgar in 1870, and died on 6 October 1876. On 3 August 1878 Baroness Lisgar married her second husband, Sir Francis Charles Fortescue Turville of Bosworth Hall, Leicestershire. She married her third husband, Henry Trueman Mills, of Lubenham, Market Harborough. She died at Paris on 19 July 1895.[4]
Legacy
Lisgar Collegiate Institute on Lisgar Street in Ottawa takes its name from Lord Lisgar. A likeness of Lord Lisgar is prominently displayed in the school's library.
Lisgar Street in Toronto and Lisgar Avenue in Saskatoon takes its name from Lord Lisgar.
The Sir John Young Hotel in Sydney, Australia, is named after the baron
Sir John Young Crescent, Woolloomooloo, Australia, is named after the baron
The town of Young, NSW, was named after the baron.
The lake in Tillsonburg, Ontario, was named after the Baron: Lake Lisgar.
Arms
Coat of arms of John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar
Crest
On a wreath Argent and Sable a demi-lion rampant Gules charged on the shoulder with a trefoil slipped Or holding in the dexter paw a sprig of three maple leaves all Proper.
Escutcheon
Argent three piles Sable each charged with a trefoil slipped Or on a chief Sable three annulets Or and in canton the augmentation of a baronet being an inescutcheon a dexter hand erect couped at the wrist and appaumé Gules.
