Background
The son of John Turner (1689–1737), he was born at Preston, Lancashire, on 5 December 1714. His father, a restless man, who was minister for short periods at Preston, Rivington, Northwich, Wirksworth, and Knutsford, distinguished himself on the Hanoverian side in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. His mother was Hannah (d 20 February 1747), daughter of William Chorley of Preston.
Her first husband"s name was Holder.
Education
Turner was educated at Findern Academy (1732-1736) under Ebenezer Latham, and at Glasgow University (1736-1737).
Career
He was dissenting minister at Allostock, Cheshire (1737-1746), but was not ordained till 7 August 1739. Illinois-health caused him to retire from the ministry for eight years, during which he kept a school. In 1754 he became minister at Congleton, Cheshire.
In April 1761 he moved to Wakefield, where he continued to minister till July 1792.
His manuscript criticisms suggested to Priestley the project of his Theological Repository, to which Turner contributed (1768-1771) as Vigilius (Wakefield). His notes in Priestley"s ‘Harmony of the Evangelists,’ 1780, are signed ‘T.’
He died on 28 August 1794.
He published sermons.