The Gallant Young: Heroism, Audacity, And Controversy Of A Kentucky Naval Officer (Part Seven)
By: Joe D. Friday Jr.
Note: This is the seventh and final part of an ongoing multi-part series. For further context of this story, please read the previous parts in this series.
A few newspapers lamented that Young was being wasted and deserved more prestigious duty than command of the Key West naval station. Reports also said he was scheduled for more sea duty within the next year.167 Whether or not he was satisfied with the assignment is not known. Young, sixty years old by this time, was approaching retirement. At Key West, he continued to host and enjoy the company of many visitors.168
On June 26 The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Young had recommended G.J. Hagan, a seaman under his command, for a commendation for heroism in saving the life of a young boy from drowning at Key West.169 Perhaps this incident, in a symbolic way, represented Lucien Young’s passing of the torch of gallantry to the younger generation, and it seems fitting that at the twilight of his career, he would do so.
Young took thirty days leave in September and traveled with Mary Belle to New York City. While staying at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel on the evening of October 1, Young complained of abdominal pain and summoned a doctor.170 His symptoms moderated, but returned the next afternoon, and he died suddenly at about 4:30 pm, on October 2.171 It was an abrupt end to a life and career filled with many highlights, stories, and adventures. Newspapers across the country carried the sad news. His Kentucky obituary eulogized:
“Admiral Young not only had the courtly manners and impressive bearing of an officer of the American Navy, but was a true Kentuckian, with the wit, humor, and warm-hearted impulsiveness which characterizes the people of his native state. He was a famous story-teller, and his regular visits were hailed with delight…[he] was widely popular in Lexington society as well as Frankfort and the other Bluegrass cities.”172
Young was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on October 7, 1912.173
Shortly after his death, Mary Belle donated the admiral’s presentation sword and uniform to the Kentucky Historical Society. She left the society his two gold lifesaving medals, awarded to him following the Huron tragedy and his rescue of the sailor from Alaska, in her will.174 Mary Belle lived the remainder of her life in Washington, D.C., and died there on May 18, 1927.175
Rear Admiral Lucien Young served thirty-nine years in the U.S. Navy, and enjoyed a career filled with tremendous triumphs and tragedies. The record shows him to be a courageous man, a decisive leader, an aggressive combat officer, and one who never shied away from a challenge. He was an advocate of American naval power in the model of Theodore Roosevelt, with whom he shared not only his view of American exceptionalism, but also a striking physical similarity. He possessed the will to stand firm on his convictions, and to advocate strongly for the ideals in which he believed. He cultivated powerful friends and was not afraid to offend others. Outgoing, personable, ambitious, and at times controversial, he seemed larger than life in the world affairs of the time.
As a testament to his fame, his dominating character, and his dedication to service, the World War II Fletcher-class destroyer, USS Lucien Young, was named in his honor. The destroyer served in the Pacific theater from January 1944 through the end of the war and earned five battle stars.176
Images
Figure 1: Captain Lucien Young: Portrait photograph by H. Pierre Smith, San Francisco, California, circa 1906-1909. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Figure 2: USS Boston Landing Force on duty at the Arlington Hotel, Honolulu, at the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, January 1893. Lieutenant Lucien Young, USN, commanded the detachment, and is presumably the officer at right. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Figure 3: Lucien Young at U.S. Naval Academy, 1873: Photograph from U.S.N.A. Photographic Class Book, ’73. Richfield Springs, N.Y., and U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md: M. Zuller, photographer, 1873.
Figure 4: Lieutenant Lucien Young (front row, left) and ship's officers on after deck of USS Hist during the Spanish-American War, 1898. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Figure 5: USS Huron wrecked at Nags Head, NC., November 24, 1877. Library of Congress photograph.
Figure 6: USS Hist, commanded by Lieutenant Lucien Young during the Spanish-American War. Naval History And Heritage Command Photograph.
Figure 7: USS Bennington, (Gunboat # 4) Photographed circa 1891 by J.S. Johnston, New York City. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Notes
167 The Boston Globe, October 9, 1911, p. 13; The Courier-Journal, March 9, 1912, p. 6.
168 “Key West To Have Grand Celebration,” The Tampa Tribune, June 29, 1912, p. 6.
169 The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 26, 1912, p. 18.
170 “Recent Deaths,” Army And Navy Journal, October 5, 1912, p. 138.
171 Abstracts of Service Records of Naval Officers, 54
172 “Rear Admiral Young Dead,” The Courier-Journal, October 3, 1912, p. 1.
173 “Rear Admiral Young Buried,” The Washington Post, October 8, 1912, p. 6.
174 Records for Lucien Young, Kentucky Historical Society, Website: https://kyhistory.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Young%2C%20Lucien, (Accessed November 7, 2025)
175 Memorial page for Mary Belle Parker Young (22 Nov 1859–18 May 1927), Find a Grave, database and images, Website: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49340486/mary_belle-young, (Accessed November 9, 2025).
176 USS Lucien Young (DD-580), Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.