Robert Young (Hawaii)

Infobox Hawaiian Royalty
name =Robert Young
title =

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imgw =
reign =
predecessor =
successor =
spouse =
issue =
full name =Robert Young
titles =
royal house =House of Olohana
Royal House of Oahu
royal anthem =
father =John Young Olohana
mother =Namokuelua
date of birth =birth date|1796|2|14|df=y
place of birth =Kawaiahe ?, Hawaii
date of death =c. 1813
place of death =Bermuda
place of burial =|

Robert Young (1796 - ? 1813) was a Hawaiian chief and the son of John Young, the British advisor of Kamehameha the Great. He was a namesake of his paternal grandfather, Robert Young of Lancashire, England. His mother was of chiefly rank.

Early life

He was born 14 February 1796, the eldest son of John Young and his wife Namokuelua. Robert's mother, the chiefess Namokuelua, was of Oahuan aristocracy, although not of high rank.http://files.usgwarchives.org/hi/keepers/koc29.txt] Robert's father was the well noted advisor and "aikane" (favorite) of Kamehameha the Great. [ [http://www.nps.gov/puhe/historyculture/john-young.htm Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site - John Young (U.S. National Park Service) ] ] Even though he was his father's eldest son, John was still advanced in age, being over 48 while Robert's mother was 16. Robert was the elder full brother of James Kanehoa Young, and he was elder half-brother of Fanny Kekelaokalani Young, Grace Kamaikui Young, John Kaleipaihala Young, and Jane Lahilahi Young, children of his father's second marriage to Kaoanaeha. He was one year older than James, 8 years older than Fanny, 10 years older than Grace, 14 years older than John and 17 years older than Jane. [ [http://homepage.mac.com/gencea/Nui/ps03/ps03_056.htm John YOUNG ] ]

Education

In 1802, Robert and probably James were both sent abroad to Boston, Massachusetts for a proper Western education. A letter in the Archives, dated in 1804, referring to Robert having been left at school in America, would indicate the event to have been an early politic step. This letter has not before been referred to, it is believed, and gives material that might have connection with the inquiries mentioned at the opening of this paper, were it not known that the lad died before reaching his teens. It is dated at Canton, February 10, 1804, directed to John Young, and is as follows:

"I have sent you by Mr. Davis 20 pieces of Blue Nankeens and two boxes of tea. I left your son Robert well in America about six months since; he is at school and behaves very well. I shall do everything for him that I promised you, you may depend on it. I am very fond of him, and shall take great care to make him a good man. Remember me to Stewart, Davis, and Holmes when you see them, and believe me, ::Your friend, JAMES MAGEE." [http://books.google.com/books?id=vnb1f7WaVpoC&ie=ISO-8859-1 "Hawaiian Almanac and Annual for 1911"] (1910) THOS. G. THRUM, Compiler and Publisher. p. 101]

According to this letter, Robert could have only arrived in Boston, on October of 1803. He made have started out from Hawaii in 1802, but the journey even by the standard of those days wouldn't have taken more than 11 or 10 months.

Death

Robert joined the American Navy, at age 16, served in the War of 1812. Ironically, for he himself was half-British, he was captured by the British and taken as prisoner. He was sent to the island of Bermuda, where he became lost to history. Nothing definite was ever heard from him again. [ [http://www.spiritofaloha.com/place/0503/place.html Spirit of Aloha - Aloha Airlines' in-flight magazine with information on Hawaii vacations, Hawaiian island maps and the best places to travel in Hawaii ] ]

It would be interesting to know where and in whose care he was left for schooling, Robert's experience in the War of 1812, and what happened to him after his capture by his father's kinsmen. Once source states: "It is said that he died early in his school career and was buried in the States, but no particulars can be gathered."

Reference

External links

* [http://homepage.mac.com/gencea/Nui/ps03/ps03_072.htm Robert YOUNG]