YOUNG MEN WHO WERE GREAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 31

YOUNG MEN WHO WERE GREAT.

Prominent Figures in the World's History Who Were Famous in Early Manhood. Charles James Fox was hi Parliament at 19. The great Cromwell left the University of Cambridge at 18. John Bright never was at any school a day after he was 15 years old. * Gladstone was in Parliament at 22, and at 24 was Lord of the Treasury. Lord Bacon graduated at Cambridge when 16, and was called to the Bar at 21. Peel was in Parliament at 21, and Palmerston was Lord of the Admiralty at 23. Henry Clay was in the Senate ' of the United States at 29, contrary to the Constitution. John Hampton, after graduating at Oxford, was a student at law in the Inner Temple at 19. Gustavus Adolphus ascended the throne at

16 ; before he was 34 he was one of the great rulers of Europe. Judge Story was at Harvard at 15, in Congress at 29, and judge of the Supreme Court of the United States at 32. Martin Luther had become largely distinguished at 24, and at 56 had reached the topmost round of his world-wide fame. Conde conducted a memorable campaign at 17, and at 22 he and Turenne also were the most illustrious men of their time. Webster was in college at 15, gave earnest of his great future before he was 25, and at 30 was the peer of the ablest man in Congress. William H. Seward commenced the practice of law at 21, at 31 was president of a State convention, and at 37 Governor of New York. Washington was a distinguished colonel in the army at 22, early in public affairs, commander of the forces at 43, and president at 57. Maurice of Saxony died at 32, conceded to have been one of the profoundest statesmen and one of the ablest generals that Christendom has seen. Napoleon at 25 commanded the army of Italy. At 30 he was not only one of the most illustrious generals of all time but one of the great law-givers of the world. At 46 he saw Waterloo. The great Leo X was Pope at 38, having finished his academic training, he took the office of cardinal at 18 — only 12 months younger than was Charles James Fox when he entered Parliament. Only one civilian out of the presidents of this country gained his first election after he was 60, and that one was James Buchanan. The chance for the presidency after 60 is small, and growing less. William Pitt entered the university at 14, was Chamcellor of the Exchequer at 22, Prime Minister at 24, and so continued for 20 years ; and at 35 his was the most powerful uncrowned head of Europe. From the earliest years of Queen Elizabeth to the latest of Queen Victoria, England has had scarcely an able statesman who did not leave the university by the time he was 20, and many of them left at an earlier age. The late Lord Beaconsfield left the cloister and entered the great -world early, as did John Bright, and commenced his political career by writing a book at 17, in which he predicted that he would by Prime MinisterHamilton was in King's College at 16 ; when 17 he made a notable address on public affairs to the citizens of New York ; at 20 he was entrusted with a most important mission to General Gates ; was in Congress at 25, and Secretary of the Treasury at 32. John Quincy Adams, at the age of 14, was secretary to Mr Dana, then Minister to the Kussian court ; at 30 he was himself Minister to Prussia; at 35 he was Minister to Russia; at 48 he was Minister to England ; at 56 he was Secretary of State, arid President at 57. There have been 22 presidents of the United States, five of whom were elected at 57, and six attained that great office before the age of 50. Three military men past 60 have been elected. Two died very soon, and the other was General Jackson, and he was but 61 when elected. Jonathan Edwards acquired early ronown as the greatest metaphysician in America and as unsurpassed by any one in Europe. He commenced the reading of Latin when six years old. At 10 he wrote a remarkable paper upon the immortality of the soul. At the age of 13 he entered Yale College, where he graduated four years later. General Grant was elected President at 46 ; but when a young man in the Mexican war, he so distinguished himself at the battle of Molino del Key that General Scott named him for promotion on the field, and at the storming of Chapultapec his courage and ability caused him to be specially commended by General Worth. And for these young acts of skill and valour he was made captain in the regular army. He was but 39 when he gained his victory at Fort Donelson, and only 41 when he took Vicksburg. — Boston Gazette.