William Wallace Young (7 September 1847 – 2 October 1920) was an American playwright, writer, and actor, best known for his play adaptation of the novel Ben-Hur in 1899.
He was valedictorian and last surviving member of Monmouth College class of 1863, and married Arvilla Joan Parry there in 1866.
His 1883 comedy The Rajah was panned by critics but commercially successful, playing for 256 shows in New York before going on the road.
[1] He also acted some roles, and published a number of poems, including a volume titled Wishmaker's Town in 1885 which was republished in 1898 with an introduction by Thomas Bailey Aldrich.
[4][5] Knowing that his time was short, he had just finished a historical play prior to his death (title unknown), asking that his daughter Nina transcribe it and ready it for publication.