Biographical entry Young, William John (1878 - 1942)

Summary

William John Young was the foundation Professor of Biochemistry, University of Melbourne 1938-42. He joined the University in 1920 under W.A. Osborne after working as biochemist at the Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Townsville from 1913. He devised the methods still used in the marketing of ripening bananas.

Details

Born Manchester, England, 26 January 1878. Died Melbourne, 14 May 1942. Educated University of Manchester (BSc 1898, MSc 1902). DSc, University of London, 1910. Assistant biochemist, Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, London 1902-12, biochemist, Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine, Townsville, Australia 1912-19, lecturer in biochemistry, University of Melbourne 1920-24, associate professor 1924-38, professor 1938-42, secondment to Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to establish laboratory and field studies into the biochemical problems of the cold storage of food 1926-28. President, Wallaby Club 1925-26; chairman, Australian College of Dentistry 1931-38; President, Royal Society of Victoria 1933-34; president, Victorian Branch, Australian Chemical Institute 1937-38, 1938-39; president, Victorian Branch, Australian Institute of Refrigeration 1941-42.

Related entries

Archival resources

University of Melbourne Central Registry

• William John Young - Records, 1920 - 1942; University of Melbourne Central Registry. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Marginson, Max, 'Young, William John (1878-1942), Biochemist', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 12, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1990, p. 601. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120673b.htm. Details

Journal Articles

• 'Obituary: Professor W. J. Young, DSc', Australian Journal of Science, vol. 4, no. 6, 1942, p. 191. Details
• Vickery, J. R., 'William John Young: a Pioneer in Food Science in Australia', Food Technology in Australia, vol. 38, no. 4, 1986, pp. 158-159. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Young, William John (1878-1942)', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1463337. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/scripts/tia-dynindex.php3?EID=P000925. Details
• Legge, J. W. and Gibson, F., 'Victor Martin Trikojus, 1902-1985', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 6, no. 4, 1987, pp. 519-531. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9870640519.htm. Details