William Turner

Who is William Turner?

Sir William Turner was an English Sheriff, Lord Mayor and M.P. of London.

He was born in Guisborough, the third son of John Turner. In 1623 his father bought the Kirkleatham Estate and built Kirkleatham Hall.

He moved to London and became a prosperous woollen-draper and Master of the Merchant Taylors' Company in 1661. He served as an Alderman of the City of London in 1660 and again from 1662 to 1687. He was elected a Sheriff of London for 1662–63 and Lord Mayor of London for 1668–69. He was knighted by Charles II in 1662 in recognition of his public work.

He served as the president of the Bethlehem and Bridewell Hospitals from 1669 until his death. He was a director of the East India Company for several years.

He devoted much of his fortune to establishing a hospital in his home town of Kirkleatham in 1676, known as Sir William Turner's Hospital and now an independent retirement home. After being largely rebuilt in 1742 it has been occupied ever since. The attached chapel contains his death mask.

At the age of 75 he was elected as Member of Parliament for the City of London in 1690, sitting until his death.