Alexander Young was an American historian and Unitarian minister. He is most notable for publishing ''Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers'', in which he is the first to label the 1621 harvest feast between the

Wampanoag The Wampanoag, also rendered Wôpanâak, are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American people of the Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Northeastern Woodlands currently based in southeastern Massachusetts and forme ...

and the Pilgrims as the "

first Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November (which became the uniform date country-wide in 1941). Outside the United States, it is sometimes called American Thanksgiving to distinguish it ...

Life

Young was born on September 22, 1800 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Alexander Young. His father had co-founded the ''Massachusetts Chronicle'', a

Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters call themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of deep ...

newspaper. Young graduated Harvard University in 1820 and graduated

Harvard Divinity School Harvard Divinity School (HDS) is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school's mission is to educate its students either in the religious studies, academic study of religion or for leadership role ...

in 1824. Young spent a year teaching at Boston Latin School before being ordained as the minister of Bostons New South Church (Unitarian). Young was made a member of Harvard's Board of Overseers and was corresponding secretary of the

Massachusetts Historical Society The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history. The Massachusetts Historical Society was established in 1791 and is located at 1154 Boylston Street ...

from 1849 to 1854. Young died in Boston on March 10, 1854.

Works

*''A Discourse On The Life And Character Of The Hon.

Nathaniel Bowditch Nathaniel Bowditch (March 26, 1773 – March 16, 1838) was an early American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean navigation. He is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation; his book '' The New American Practical Navi ...

'' (1838) *''A Discourse on the Life and Character of the Reverend John Thornton Kirkland'' (1840) *''Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth, From 1602 to 1625'' (1841) *''A Discourse Occasioned by the Death of the Hon.

William Prescott William Prescott (February 20, 1726 – October 13, 1795) was an American officer in the Revolutionary War best known for his service at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Life Prescott was born in Groton, Massachusetts to Benjamin Prescott (169 ...

'' (1844) *''Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, From 1623 to 1636'' (1846)

References

American historians 1800 births 1854 deaths Clergy from Boston Harvard College alumni Harvard Divinity School alumni {{Unitarianism-stub