Using his connections to continue in service during the years of peace, he was almost immediately given command of a ship on the outbreak of the wars with the France and served initially in the Mediterranean during the siege of Toulon, at the reduction of Corsica, and at the battles of Genoa and Hyères Islands.

[1] Service in the American War of Independence created opportunities for aspiring young officers, and he received his first command, that of the sloop HMS Snake, on 10 May 1777.

He sent a squadron under Commodore Robert Linzee, and consisting of three ships of the line and two frigates, with troops under Major-General David Dundas, to Mortella Bay.

[1][5] Capturing the tower was necessary to secure the bay, but it proved highly resistant to bombardment, and despite only being armed with one 24-pounder gun, inflicted heavy damage on the British ships.

After two hours of bombardment Fortitude had been nearly set on fire by hot shot, and was forced to retreat with six men killed and fifty-six wounded.

[1][5][b] Young continued to serve with Hood's forces, and was active in the sieges of Bastia and Calvi, being awarded the honorary rank of colonel of marines on 4 July 1794.

Though professionally Young maintained the official line on the events, privately he appears to have been somewhat sympathetic to the seamen's complaints, and in a letter to Captain Charles Morice Pole remarked that ‘a sad want of energy and of particular attention to duty which the government of large bodies of men requires especially in these times and an absent or indifferent man can produce incalculable mischief’.

[1][9][10] His task was to blockade the Dutch fleet, and he hoisted his flag aboard the 83-gun HMS Christian VII on his arrival at the Downs on 26 April.

Young had the support of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Charles Philip Yorke, though the blockade proved an arduous task, consisted of constant cruises, with shortages of ships, men and supplies, and the problems of bad weather.

[1] He hoped to be given command of the Channel Fleet, but when the appointment was given to Lord Keith in February 1812, Young felt he had been undermined, and resigned.

[11] He was made Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom on 18 July 1819 after the death of Sir William Cornwallis, but by now was troubled by his failing health, and spent November 1818 at Bath.

[1][9] Admiral Sir William Hotham described Young during his time at the Admiralty as being ‘diligent in application, clear in method and generally informed’.

[1][12] Sir William Hotham instead declared that his manners 'tho' rather formal and cold, were those of a perfect gentleman, while he had the most punctilious sense of integrity'.

[14] c. ^ The victories commemorated were Lord Howe's at the Glorious First of June, Sir John Jervis's at St Vincent, and Adam Duncan's at Camperdown.