George Young, Lord Young

He was born in Dumfries and educated locally before being sent to the University of Edinburgh to study law.

He was appointed Lord Advocate in 1869, the most senior legal position in Scotland, and technically a governmental post.

On 3 March 1874 he was created a Senator of the College of Justice with the title Lord Young.

The most important legislation framed and created by Lord Young was the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 under which every town and village in Scotland were obliged to give free education to both boys and girls from the age of five to the age of eleven.

He married Janet Graham Bell on 18 July 1847, and they had fourteen children.