He attended Franklin College (now known as the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences), the founding school of the University of Georgia in Athens, was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.)

From 1846 to 1849, he was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly House of Representatives for the Edgefield District and served one term.

He participated in the Virginia campaign, but was subsequently transferred, as colonel, to Georgia in command of state troops.

After the war, Yancey lost his property and borrowed money from his former slave.

[4] In 1867, Yancey was elected president of the Alabama State Agricultural society, and he served as a trustee of the University of Georgia from 1860 to 1889.