James Young
James Young - A Famous Scottish Chemist and Discoverer of Paraffin
James Young (1811-1883) was born, on the 13th of July 1811, in the Drygate, Glasgow, the son of a cabinetmaker. From an early age Young was taught by his father as his apprentice. At 19 he began evening classes at Anderson's College where he met, and became friends, with (Professor) Thomas Graham who was lecturing chemistry. In 1832 Young became his assistant and was occasionally his substitute in the duties of teaching. In 1837 Graham moved to the University College London where Young continued as his assistant and lecturer for a short spell.
In 1838 Young was employed at the chemical works of the Muspratts at St. Helens and he later moved to Manchester to become the manager in the chemical works of Tennants, Clow & Co. He was directed to a natural spring of rock oil or petroleum at Alfreton, Derbyshire. He experimented greatly with the oil trying to understand its composition and how it could be put to practical use.
In 1848 he set up in business, building a chemical works, refining the crude oil from the spring at Alfreton. The venture was a success and demand for Young's oil increased. The demand was greater than the supply from the spring and, as the spring dried up, Young was forced to look for other materials which could be used as a source of oil. In 1850 he patented a process of extracting oil from cannel coal and, in 1851, he partnered with Edward Binney and Edward Meldrum to set up a chemical works at Bathgate in West Lothian to extract oil from Torbanite, a special, oil rich coal found nearby. By further experimentation Young discovered that, by a process of slow distillation, he was able to extract paraffin oil and paraffin wax. The process was quickly patented.
Young quickly made a fortune through the sale of his paraffin and other products, becoming known as 'Paraffin' Young. Young was a generous man, he used some of his riches to pay off the debts of David Livingstone whom he had met, and become close lifelong friends with, while at Anderson's College.
James Young died, on May 13 1883, in his residence of Kelly, near Wemyss Bay.
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