Career
Turner was the youngest of four sons of a family that arrived in Blackburn at the beginning of the nineteenth century and opened a calico printing works at Mill Hill. He served as High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1826. Wakefield was jailed for three years.
The Turners were popular in Blackburn and William was much liked as an employer.
At the 1832 general election, he ran for the newly created constituency of Blackburn, "almost like a bomb shell, offering himself to the Free and independent electors of both parties". He made an election speech outside the Old Bulletin Hotel to a large crowd of working men, saying, "Gentlemen, They said I wouldn’t come.
But I am come, and will be here at the day of the election. I"ll stand the contest.
lieutenant rains; it will wet you and will wet medical
Good night. Give us three cheers." He then went into the inn and bought barrels of beer for the crowds. Turner died at his home in Mill Hill at the age of 65 and was buried in Saint Johns churchyard Blackburn.