John C. Young (pastor)

The Reverend John C. Young
Portrait by John Sartain, 1890
4th President of Centre College
In office November 18, 1830 – June 23, 1857
Preceded by	Gideon Blackburn
Succeeded by	Lewis W. Green
Personal details
Born	(1803-08-12)August 12, 1803 Greencastle, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	June 23, 1857(1857-06-23) (aged 53) Danville, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place	Bellevue Cemetery
Spouses	Frances Breckinridge ​ ​ (m. 1829; died 1837)​ Cornelia Crittendon ​ (m. 1839)​
Children	10, including William
Education	Columbia College Dickinson College (AB, 1823) Princeton Theological Seminary (DD, 1828)
Signature

John Clarke Young (August 12, 1803 – June 23, 1857) was an American educator and pastor who was the fourth president of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. A graduate of Dickinson College and Princeton Theological Seminary, he entered the ministry in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1828. He accepted the presidency of Centre College in 1830, holding the position until his death in 1857, making him the longest-serving president in the college's history. He is regarded as one of the college's best presidents, as he increased the endowment of the college more than five-fold during his term and increased the graduating class size from two students in his first year to forty-seven in his final year.

Continuing to preach while in office, Young accepted the pastorate of the Danville Presbyterian Church in 1834 and founded the Second Presbyterian Church in Danville in 1852. He was a respected member of the church and was elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly in 1853. He published several sermons and speeches as part of this work, including one about temperance and several in support of the gradual emancipation of slaves.

Young is the namesake of several facets of the college today, including Young Hall and the John C. Young Scholars Program. He was the father of William C. Young, who later became Centre's eighth president.