Born in 1773 at Douglas on the Isle of Man, Young joined his father's ship, the frigate HMS "Severn" in 1781, and made lieutenant ten years later in the buildup to the French Revolutionary Wars. He was however unable to gain any influence, and remained without a posting until 1795, when he was sent to the Caribbean on HMS "Thorn", and was commended for the capture of the French corvette "Courier-National" and for an armed landing on the island of St Vincent in which he was embroiled in the thick of the fighting but was unhurt. Sailing in HMS "Bonne Citoyenne", he was an observer of the battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797, and was badly wounded by a collapsing spar during a gun action a few weeks later. Returning for duty in 1798, Young participated in the defence of Gibraltar and was present in the aftermath of the Battle of the Nile, aiding in repairs and consolidation of the British fleet.