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YAKUB KHAN (1849-1923) Afghan ruler. Was governor of Herat when young. In 1878 became ruler when his father fled the country. Recognized by the British and signed a treaty with them. A revolt among his troops who murdered the British resident, caused the British to attack. He was forced to abdicate in 1879.
YALE, Elihu (1648-1721). American official. He went to India in 1672 in the service of the East India company, and became governor of fort S. George in 1687. After becoming very wealthy he became a philanthropist. In 1699 he was appointed a governor of the East India Company. In 1745 Yale University was named after him due to his substantial assistance to the Collegiate school of Connecticut in 1718 which was to become the university.
YAMAGATA, Aritomo, Prince (1838-1922). Japanese soldier. A Samurai, he helped in the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, becoming minister of war in 1873, and in 1877 helped to suppress the Satsuma rebellion. He was created count in 1884, appointed minister of home affairs 1885, commanded the 1st army corps in the sino-Japanese war, 1894-95, becoming inspector-general of the army and created a marquess at the end of it. Promoted to field-marshal in 1896, and in the Russo-Japanese war was chief of staff to Oyama. He was twice prime minister in 1889 and 1898. The British Order of Merit was conferred upon him in 1906 and he was created a prince in 1907.
YAMAMOTO, Gombei, Count (1852-1933). Japanese statesman. He entered the navy rising to be vice-admiral. Minister of the navy in 1898, 1900 and 1901-05. Created count for his services in the Russo-Japanese war. Twice prime minister for a short time in 1913 and 1923.
YANCY, William Lowndes (1814-63). American politician. He entered the Georgia legislature in 1841 and was elected to the house of representatives in 1844. Being against the abolition of slavery, he helped to formulate the Alabama Platform, which demanded that the government protect slave-owners against their enemies and played a leading part in the Democratic party which led to the secession of the Southern states and the establishment of a Confederate government in 1860. He became a confederate senator in 1862 but died a year later.
YA'QUBI (d.891). Arabian historian. He left Armenia in 837 on a journey through India, Egypt and later Maghrib. Chief work his History, contains a detailed account of the manners and customs of many countries, plus a Mahomedan History down to the year 872.
YAQUT (1179-1229). Arabian writer. A slave of an Arabian merchant, his master had him educated and trained in his business. After his master's death he travelled widely in Persia, turkestan, syria and Egypt. Settling in Aleppo in 1222 he wrote a geography, Mu' jain ul-Buldan, and a biographical dictionary Mu'jain ul-Udaba.
YARMOUTH, Amalie Sophie Marianne von Wallmoden, Countess of (1704-65). Mistress of George II. Divorced by her husband in 1739 and having met George II 4 years earlier, she was made countess of Yarmouth and lived at St. Jame's palace. she returned to Hanover at the king's death.
YARROW, Sir Alfred Fernandez (1842-1932). English engineer. He founded the engineering firm of Yarrow and Hedley, later Yarrow and Co. Ltd. in 1866. They specialised in the construction of torpedo-boats, torpedoboat destroyers, boats of shallow draught and the Yarrow boiler which was generally adopted by the navies of the world at that time. The works were removed to Scotstown on the Clyde in 1906 and a branch was opened at Vancouver. He was created a baronet in 1916.
YATES, Edmund Hodgson (1831-94). British journalist. Became dramatic critic and reviewer to the Daily News in 1854, and editor of Town Talk, 1858. Edited Temple Bar from 1860, and Tinsley's Magazine from 1867, 1873 became European representative of The New York Herald. 1874, found a society paper The World, and founded and edited Time, 1879. Wrote a number of novels including Black Sheep, 1867, which was dramatized, and The Silent Witnes, 1875, and Recdollecitons and Experiences 1884.
YEAMES, William Frederick (1835-1918). British painter. Born in South Russia, he studied art in Florence and London, becoming A.R.A. in 1866 and R.A., 1878. He was curator of the Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital, and also taught in the R.A. schools. His dramatic historical representations particularly Amy Robsart and When Did You Last See Your Father? were enormously popular.
YEGHEN, Adly Pasha (1865-1933). Egyptian statesman. He was governor of Cairo in 1902 and became vice-president of the legislative assembly in 1913. During World War I he was minister of foreign affairs. It was through his influence that Hussein accepted the rulership of Egypt after the deposition of Abbas. Strongly opposed to the agitation for Egyptian independence he resigned at the end of 1920, but in 1926 became head of a coalition ministry. He failed to stem the tide of Nationalist feeling and resigned in April 1927.
YERKES, Charles Tyson (1837-1905). American financier. He became prominent about 1873 and acquired a reputation by his development of the street railway system of Philadelphia. Later he gained control of the Chicago street and elevated railway system and in 1900 came to London where he greatly developed the tube systems. He endowed the observatory at Chicago university named after him in 1892.
YEXLEY, Lionel (1861-1933) English journalist. His real name was James Woods. He joined the navy in 1877, but resigned to become a journalist in 1898. He edited The Bluejacket, 1898-1904 and then started The Fleet and the Fleet Annual. He advocated reform in the navy and did much to bring about better conditions in the lower deck. He wrote a number of books on life in the senior service including Grog Time Yarns and The British Navy From Within.
YEZDIGIRD I. (d.420). He belonged to the Sassanid dynasty of Persia and was a son of Shapur III. Came to the throne about 399 and gave himself the task of breaking the power of the nobles and the Magian priesthood. A good administrator, he consolidated central authority and enforced a large measure of religious tolerance in his kingdom. His policy of peace towards the Roman empire won him the esteem of Byzantine authors, but earned him the contempt of his fellow-countrymen and he was probably murdered at Khorassan. His title of the Wicked was earned at Persian hands by his favouring Christians in Persia permitting open worship. Later the policy was reversed and Christians persecuted.
YORCK VON WARTENBURG, Hans David Ludwig, Count (1759-1830). Prussian soldier. He entered the Prussian army in 1772 but was dismissed for disobedience in 1779. He saw his first service with the Dutch in the East Indies. Reinstated in the Prussian army in 1787, he fought in Poland in 1794 and at Jena, 1805, and in 1812 led the contingent sent by Prussia at the order of Napoleon to the Grand Army which invaded Russia. Yorck was strongly opposed to the French alliance and his influence brought about a declaration of war against France in 1813. He commanded against the French 1813-14. His greatest success was his victory at Wartenburg. Made a count in 1821 and also promoted field-marshal.
YORK, Frederick Augustus, duke of (1763-1827). English soldier. The second son of George III, at the age of 6 months he was given the bishopric of Osnabruck, and having studied military science in Austria and Prussia, he was made lieutenant-general in 1784. In the same year he was made duke of York and Albany and in 1791 married Frederica (1767-1820) daughter of the Prussian king Frederick William II. He was put in command of the English forces sent in 1793 to join the allies in invading France from the Netherlands. He was defeated at Dunkirk, 1793 and Tournai, 1794. Though unpopular at home, he was promoted fieldmarshal in 1795 and made commander-in-chief, 1798, and in 1799 was put in command of the disastrous invasion of Holland. He was compelled to resign in 1809, his mistress Mary Ann clark having been charged with taking money from officers to secure their promotion, although he was himself found innocent of corrupt practices. He became commander-in-chief again in 1811-27, being responsible for important improvements in the tone and discipline of the army and for the eradication of corruption.
YORK, Richard, duke of (1411-60) English soldier. The son of Richard, earl of Cambridge and the grandson of Edmund of Langley, duke of York, he succeeded his uncle Edward as duke of York in 1415, founght in France, 1430, and in 1438 was made lieutenant-general for Henry VI in France. A supporter of Humphrey of Gloucester and a relation by marriage of the Nevilles, he succeeded Humphrey as leader of the anti-court party in 1447, and in that year was virtually exiled by being appointed lieutenant of Ireland. Returning suddenly in 1450, he led the opposition to Edmund Beaufort, duke of Somerset. He vetoed the suggestion that he should be declared heir, but after the birth of the prince of Wales he became protector in 1454. His opposition to Somerset finally led to the outbreak of hostilities and in 1455 York won the battle of St. Albans, the first in the Wars of the Roses, Somerset being slain; but his triumph was short-lived, for on, Henry VI's recovery in 1456 his party suffered an eclipse. He resorted to arms again in 1459, and defeated in Ludlow, took refuge in Ireland. He returned to England in 1460, and having formally claimed the throne, was nominated successor to Henry. His foes, however, caught him at Sandal Castle, near Wakefield, where during the battle he was killed. Two of his sons became kings; Edward IV and Richard III.
YORKE, Charles (1722-70). English lawyer. He became a barrister in 1746, and was appointed solicitor-general, 1756. He was the attorney-general in Bute's ministry, 1762-63, and in Rodkingham's ministry, 1765-67. although he had promised to refuse his support to Grafton, he accepted the office of lord chancellor from him in 1776, but 3 days after, died of shame at his broken pledge, refusing on his death-bed to seal the patent creating him a baron.
YOSAI, Kikuchi [1781-1878]. Japanese painter. Born a samurai he became famous for his pictures of the warriors of old Japan. One of the greatest of Japanese painters, he issued Zenken Kojitsu, a work in 20 volumes, containing portraits in black and white of famous men in Japanese history.
YOSHIHITO, [1879-1926]. Emperor of Japan. A younger son of the emperor Mutsuhito, he became heir-apparent, through the early deaths of his eldest brothers, at the age of 8, and married Princess Sadako in 1900. He succeeded his father in 1912, but owing to continual illness was unable to reign, his eldest son, Hirihito acting as Regent from 1921.
YOUNG, Arthur (1741-1820). English writer. He began his literary career in 1758 when he published a political pamphlet, and after experiments in editorship and novel writing found his true path with a number of works on agriculture. These writings based on his own experience and observations gave great impetus to agriculture in England. They include a Course Of Experimental Agriculture, 1770; A Tour Through The Southern Counties, 1768; A Tour Through The North Of England, 1771; A Tour In Ireland, 1780; The Farmer's Calendar, 1771; and The Annals Of Agriculture, started in 1784 and continued for 45 volumes. Young's Travels In France during 1787-89 as great historical value for the accurate picture of life there before the Revolution. He became first secretary to the Board of Agriculture, 1793.
YOUNG, Brigham (1801-77). Mormon leader. He entered the Mormon church in 1832, became an apostle, 1835, and in 1840 established branches of his church in England. On the death of Joseph Smith in 1844 he was chosen president and his management prevented the disintegration of the church. Under his guidance the whole church began its migration westward in 1846, and in 1847 he led the first party to the Great Salt Lake, Utah. His publication of the revelation of polygamy in 1852, caused a cleavage in the church, and made official recognition of the State which he called Deseret impossible. It was therefore organized as the Federal State of Utah, and Young was appointed governor. He so misused his power that troops were sent against him in 1857, and the Mormon War broke out. Young surrendered but was deprived of his governorship, 1858. The remainder of his life was spent in the peaceful organisation of the State, establishing Industries, founding a University, a temple, a theater and a co-operative society. He was survived by 17 wives and 47 children.
YOUNG, Charles Augustus (1834-1908). American astronomer. He became professor of natural philosophy and mathematics at the Western Reserve College, Ohio, 1857, and professor of astronomy and natural philosophy at Dartmouth, 1866, and at Princeton, 1877. He was the discoverer of the reversing layer in the atmosphere of the sun and in 1869 was the first to observe the spectrum of the solar corona.
YOUNG, Edward (1863-1765). English poet. He took orders late in life, became a royal chaplain in 1728 and in 1730 was given the living of Welwyn, Hertfordshire, which he held until his death. In addition to the tragedies, Revenge, 1721, and The Brothers, 1753, Young wrote many occasional odes, which contain some of the worst poetry ever written in English. His only poem of permanent value is The Complaint, or Night thoughts on Life, Death and Immortality, 1742. It had an enormous influence on later poets.
YOUNG, James (1811-83) British chemist. He was inspired by the discovery of a spring of petroleum at Alfredton, Derbyshire, in 1847, to devote himself to studies of illuminating and lubricating oils. In 1850 he took out a patent for a process of slow distillation of coal, among the many valuable by-products resulting from his process being paraffin. Young made further discoveries of practical value, such as the neutralisation of the action of bilge-water on iron ships by the use of caustic lime, and established works for the distillation of coal or shale at Bathgate and elsewhere.
YOUNG, Thomas (1773-1829) English physicist. He was appointed professor of natural philosophy at the Royal Institution, 1801, and made his reputation by his researches on optics. The real founder of physiological optics, he was the first to prove that the accommodating power of the eye is due to variation in curvature of the lens, to give an explanation of colour sensation, to measure astigmatism, and to discover the interference of light. His medical works included An Introduction to Medical Literature, 1813, and a Treatise on Consumptive Diseases, 1815. As an Egyptologist he performed a valuable service by translating, in 1814, the demotic text of the Rosetta Stone, while as a physicist he first explained correctly capillary phenomena, did valuable work on the wave theory of light, and gave his name to Young's modulus, a term used in the measurement of elasticity.
YOUNG, Thomas (1587-1655). British divine. He was tutor to John Milton, 1618-20. Prominent in the Puritan ranks, he held two livings at Stowmarket from 1628, and was master of Jesus College, Cambridge, 1644-50. He is known as the author of Dies Dominica, 1639, a Sabbath observance tract, and as part-author of the Smectymnus, a reply to the Humble Remonstrance of Joseph Hall, 1640.
YOUNG, Thomas (1773-1829). English Physicist. He was appointed professor of natural philosophy at the Royal Institution, 1801, and made his reputation by his researches on optics. The real founder of physiological optics, he was the first to prove that the accommodating power of the eye is due to variation in curvature of the lens, to give an explanation of colour sensation, to measure astigmatism, and to discover the interference of light. His medical works included An Introduction to Medical Literature, 1813, and a Treatise on Consumptive diseases, 1815. As an Egyptologist he performed a valuable service by translating in 1814, the demotic text of the Rosetta Stone, while as a physicist he first explained correctly capillary phenomena, did valuable work on the wave theory of light, and gave his name to Young's modulus, a term used in the measurement of elasticity.
YOUNGER, George Younger, 1st Viscount (1851-1929) British politician. He entered his father's brewing business, became a director of Lloyd's Bank, and the National Bank of Scotland, and was returned to Parliament as a Unionist by the Ayr Burghs, 1906. He was president of the National Union of Conservative Associations in Scotland, 1914 , and as chairman from 1916 of the Unionist Party Organisation, was chief organizer of the coalition victory in 1919. He organized the Unionist platform in the 1922 general election, resigning in that year. Created a baron 1911, he was made Viscount in 1923.
YOXALL, Sir James Henry (1857-1925). English educationist. He became a teacher in 1878, and was made president of the National Union of Teachers in 1991, becoming its general secretary in the following year. He served on the Royal Commission on secondary education, 1894-95, and was MP for West Nottingham 1895-1918. He edited the schoolmaster for many years, and also wrote several novels and books of essays, besides many books on curio-collecting.
YPRES, John Denton Pinkstone French, Earl of (1852-1925). British soldier.the son of a Captain in the Navy and member of an old Irish family, he entered the Navy at the age of 14, but after four years service as midshipmen, transferred to the Army joining the militia. He obtained a commission in the cavalry in 1874 and became captain 1880, and major 1883. He saw his first service in Egypt with the expedition sent to the relief of Gordon in 1884-85, fighting at Abu Klea. Made colonel of the 19th Hussars in 1885, he was promoted temporary major-general and given command of the 1st cavalry brigade in 1899. Sent to South Africa, the same year as commander of the cavalry division in Natal, he proved himself an able soldier. He drove the Boers from Elandslaagte and later performed valuable services in resisting the Orange Free State Boers. His gallop with 5000 men to the relief of Kimberley was one of romances of the South African war, but of more vital importance was his ride to cut off Cronje after Paardeberg. French led the cavalry to Bloemfontein and Pretoria, and commanded the left-wing in the skirmishes at the latter place, June 1012, 1900, subsequently directing the operations in the Eastern Transvaal until the war ended in 1902. For his services he was knighted, and as a lieutenant-general he held the Aldershot command, 1902-07. Promoted general, and made inspector-general of the forces in the latter year,1912, although he had never passed through the staff college, he was appointed to succeed Sir William Nicholson as chief of the imperial staff. French was made a field-marshal in 1913, but resigned his staff appointment in 1914, on account of his differences with the government over the Ulster troubles. But on the outbreak of World War I he was at once appointed commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary force. He handled his troops well at Mons and during the subsequent retreat, but exposed himself to much criticism by first commending Smith-Dorrien's action at Le Cateau and subsequently stating that it had imperilled the safety of the whole army. at the end of the retreat was convinced that his forceswere shattered,, and his difficulties in cooperating with the French general's had persuaded him that he had been left by them in the lurch; only the insistence of Kitchener, went to France in person, prevented him from withdrawing the British troops behind Paris. He cooperated loyally however, with Joffre, both at the Marne and on the Aisne, and was responsible for the wise suggestion that the British should be moved into Flanders to be nearer their bases. In the first battle of Ypres, which developed in consequence at the end of October, French, proved his courage in a difficult position; but he himself remained skeptical of the outcome. Throughout that battle it had become increasingly clear that the French found it difficult to co-operate easily with either Joffre and Foch or with his own corps commanders. He was repeatedly persuaded to a course of action in which he did not believe, and its subsequent execution left much to be desired. The series of fruitless and terribly expensive actions in 1915, such as the Neuve Chapelle advance in March, the stubborn and poorly-conceived defence of Ypres, and the actions of Festubert and Hooge in May, provoked many doubts in the minds of the public, although the actual losses were at the time concealed. Nor did French's communication in his rather hastily-formed views on the shortage of ammunition to the correspondent of The Times in May, 1915, one of the causes of the political crisis that resulted in the formation of the first Coalition government, prove reassuring. When, following the losses at Loos in September, French endeavoured to place responsibility for failure on Sir Douglas Haig, by misdating the time at which he'd sent forward the reserves, the Cabinet was moved to action. In December it was suggested to French that he should resign, and he did so. On his return to England he was raised to the peerage as Viscount French and given command of the forces in Britain until 1918, when he was appointed viceroy of Ireland. He resigned in 1921 when he was created earl of Ypres. He had married in 1880 Eleanora Anna Selby-Lowndes, and on his death he was succeeded as 2nd earl by his elder son, John Richard Lowndes French.
YPSILANTI. Name of a family of Greek patriots. Of the Fanariotes class, claiming descent from the imperial family of Comeneus, the first Ypsilanti was Alexander (1725-1805), hospodar of Wallachia, 1774-82. He was captured by the austrians, 1792, and on his release was executed at constantinople for suspected plots against the sultan. His son Constantine (1760-1816), was hospodar of Moldavia, 1799-1805. Assisted by Russia, he attempted the liberation of Greece in 1806, but failed and retired to exile in Kiev. His eldest son, Alexander (1792-1826), served against Napoleon in the Russian army. He proclaimed the independence of Greece at Jassy, 1821, but was defeated at Dragashan, June 19, fled to Austria and died there. His brother Demetrius (1793-1832), took part in the rising of 1821, becoming president of the legislative assembly 1822-23.
YSAYE, Eugene (1858-1929) Belgian violinist. He was from 1879 famous as both solo violinist and conductor. He appeared in Paris in 1883, and in 1886 was appointed professor of the voilin at the Brussels Conservatoire. His fame in England was firmly established by his recitals at Philharmonic concerts in London in 1889, and in 1907 he conducted at Covent Garden. During the great war Ysaye took refuge in England and in the United States, where he became conductor of the Cincinnati Orchestra. He returned to Europe in 1922. He ranked among the foremost violinists of his time, with exceptional powers as an interpreter, and was noted chiefly for his playing of the works of Bach and Csar Franck. His compositions included a program Symphony, played in London in 1905, and an opera Peter the Coalminer, produced in the year his death. His brother, Theophile (1865-1918) was also a composer and pianist of merit.
YUAN-SHIH-KAI (1859-1916). Chinese statesman. He became director General of trade and international relations in Chosen (Korea) in 1883, and commander of the garrison there in 1884, holding these posts until the Sino-Japanese war1894-95. By an act of treachery he helped to establish the dowager Empress in power in 1898, and as a reward he was made governor of Shantung, 1900, and in the following year consulting minister to the government Council. After the death of Li Hung Chang he became chief adviser of the dowager Empress. His eight years as Viceroy of Chihli were remarkable for the reorganisation of the Army, but he aroused much jealousy among his colleagues, who, in 1907, contrived to have him virtually banished. After the Empress' death he was forced to retire in 1909, by the Regent, but in 1911, at the outbreak of the revolution he was placed in command of the royalist forces. Left without support he was unable to prevent the Republican triumph; but on the abdication of the Emperor in 1912, he was, in order to secure unity, elected president of the Chinese Republic in 1913. He crushed the Cantonese insurrection under Sun Yat-Sen, 1913, and in 1915 was proposed as the new Emperor. A fresh insurrection followed, however and he died in 1916.
YUDENITCH, Nicholas Nicolaievitach (1862-1933) Russian soldier. He entered the Russian army in 1879, saw active service in the Russo-Japanese War, and at the outbreak of the Great War was Chief of Staff and virtually commander-in-chief of the army of the Caucasus. Early in 1915 he defeated the Turkish offensive, under Enver Pasha, in the Caucasus, and in 1916 with the grand duke Nicolas as his chief he captured Erzerum, Erzingan and Trebizond, conquering all Turkish Armenia. He led an army against the Bolsheviks near Petrograd in 1919, but was defeated and went into retirement.
YULE, Sir Henry (1820-89). British writer. In the course of a distinguished career he acted as government secretary to the Public Works Department in India, 1855-62, and after his retirement was a member of the Council of India in London, 1875-89. Publication of his account of pre-16th century China, Cathay and the Way Thither, 1866, was followed by his famous work The Book of Ser Marco Polo, 1871, which gained him the founder's medal of the Royal Geographical Society. His other works include Hobson-Jobson, A Glossary of Anglo-Indian colloquial Words and Phrases, 1866. Yule was knighted in the year he died.
YUNG LO (d.1425) Chinese ruler. The third of the Ming Dynasty, he won power in 1403 after severe struggles with rival claimants, and did much to carry on the stabilizing policy of his father Hung Wu, who established the Dynasty. The administration of the country was much improved by him, and the Mongol menace was so subdued that he was able to remove the capital from Nanking in the South to Peking in the north, for the building of which, on the plans of Kublai Khan, he was largely responsible. His mortuary temple, north of Peking, is memorable for the immense stone figures guarding the avenue of its approach.
YVES, (1253-1303). Breton saint. He became an ecclesiastical judge, winning esteem for his impartiality and championship of the poor and weak, and in 1285 he was ordained priest. He died at Louannec where he had been cure for many years. The patron saint of Brittany and of lawyers he was canonized in 1374, and his festival is kept on May 19.