Robert Young

Sir Robert Young (26 January 1872 – 13 July 1957) was a trades unionist and Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life and career Young was born in Glasgow, and attended Mossbank Industrial School in the city before taking up a career in engineering. He subsequently became one of the first students enrolled at Ruskin College, Oxford. Following his graduation he delivered some of Ruskin's extramural lectures to union branches and co-operative societies. In 1910 he married Bessie Laurina Choldcroft, and they had three children.

In 1906 he became a member of the permanent staff of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, becoming the union's assistant secretary in 1913 and its general secretary in 1919. He was awarded the OBE in 1917.

Personal life Among his interests outside parliament, he was chairman of the Workers Temperance League and independent chairman of the Ophthalmic Benefit Approved Societies.