Young, Edward (1683-1765), was a poet of the Augustan age in English literature. His later verse was part of a trend away from the witty, imitative poetry of that time to the more passionate, imaginative poetry of the romantic period.
Two works established Young’s reputation. The Complaint: or Night Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality (1742-1745) is a series of nine meditative blank verse poems defending Christianity against freethinkers. This work became popular throughout Europe. Conjectures on Original Composition (1759) is a critical essay claiming that originality in literature is superior to the imitation of ancient writers.
Young was born in Upham, near Winchester, the son of a rector (clergyman in charge of a parish). In 1730, he became rector at Welwin in Hertfordshire. Young held this position until his death on April 5, 1765.
