Young was born in Fayette County, Kentucky and was admitted to the bar in 1816.

In 1817, he moved his law practices to Jonesboro, Illinois, and was appointed a captain in the state militia.

He resigned his judgeship after being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1837 as a member of the Democratic Party.

He served as the Clerk to the United States House of Representatives in 1850 and practiced law in Washington, D.C. from 1851 until his death.

Young was the presiding judge at the 1844 trial of the accused killers of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.