Thomas Ainslie Young

Who was Thomas Ainslie Young?

Thomas Ainslie Young was an official and political figure in Lower Canada.

He was born at Quebec City in 1797, the son of John Young and grandson of Thomas Ainslie, and studied in Lower Canada and at London. In 1820, he was appointed controller of customs for the Port of Quebec; he was inspector general of the public accounts for Lower Canada from 1823 to 1826, when he was named auditor general for the public accounts. In 1823, Young married Monique-Ursule, the daughter of François Baby. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for the Lower Town of Quebec in 1824 and reelected in 1827 and 1830. He voted against the Ninety-Two Resolutions.

He served as sheriff for Quebec district from 1823 to 1827. In 1828, he was named a justice of the peace. Young served as inspector and superintendent of police for Quebec City from 1837 to 1840. In 1838, he arrested the editor and printer for Le Canadien, a newspaper viewed as inflammatory. In 1839, he arrested the editor of Le Fantasque of Quebec on similar charges.