Born: William Turner was born on 12th September 1615 in Guisborough. He was the third son of John Turner and Elizabeth Coulthirst of Upleatham. John Turner bought the Kirkleatham Estate in 1623 and built Kirkleatham Hall.
Educated:
Married: Sir William Turner never married.
Family: Sir William Turner had no children. He bequeathed much of his fortune to his great nephew Cholmley Turner.
Home: In his youth he lived at Guisborough and then at Kirkleatham Hall. He spent his adult life in London in a house close to St. Paul’s churchyard.
Known for: William Turner left Yorkshire to become a woollen draper in London and amassed a fortune. He was made Master of the Merchant Taylors’ Company in 1661 and was a director of the East India Company for several years. He was knighted on 19th July 1662 and appointed Sheriff of London. He was Lord Mayor of London 1668-9, President of the Bethlehem Hospital and President of the Bridewell Hospital. In 1676 he built Sir William Turner’s Hospital or Almhouses at Kirkleatham. He became M.P. for London in 1690 but died three years later at the age of 77. He bequeathed a sum of money to his nephew Cholmley Turner to build a school in Kirkleatham, which is now Kirkleatham Museum.
Died: Sir William Turner died suddenly on 9th February 1693 in London. He was buried at Kirkleatham.
Further Information: “A Short History of the Turner Family and their Descendants” Alfred Baldwin (1989): “The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715” D.Hayton, E.Cruikshanks and S.Handley (eds.) (2002)