Chris Taliutafa Young

Taliutafa Christopher Leiesilika Young, also known as Christopher Taliutafa Young, Chris Young or Kilisi Young (20 December 1892 – 21 December 1967), was the last claimant to the traditional title Tui Manu'a (paramount chief or king) of Manu'a, a group of islands in the eastern part of the Samoan Islands (present day American Samoa). He was deposed from this title and exiled by American Governor Edward Stanley Kellogg because the idea of monarchy was incompatible with the Constitution of the United States.

Biography

His parents were Arthur Paʻu Young and of Amipelia or Amepelia. His father's heritage was half-Samoan and half-white; his grandfather was either a British or American surnamed Young and his grandmother was a Samoan woman of Fasito'o (located in the western Samoan Islands). On his mother's side, Young was a descendant of Tui Manu'a Taliutafa Tupolo, son of Tui Manu'a Moaatoa, of the anoalo class, the lineal descendants of the Tui Manu'a line. Young also received a letter from the President of the United States concurring with Kellogg's decision ending the succession of the title and stating that the United States' "system of government does not permit it." He was eventually allowed to return to Manu'a.

A minority of modern Samoans still regard Chris Young as the last Tui Manu'a, although the majority opinion is that Tui Manu'a Elisala was the last official titleholder.