Henry Gray Turner
Encyclopedia
Henry Gray Turner was an American
politician, teacher, jurist and soldier.
, North Carolina
. He attended the University of Virginia
(UVA) in Charlottesville
in 1857 before moving to Brooks County
, Georgia
, in 1859 to teach school.
During the American Civil War
, Turner enlisted as a private in the Confederate States Army
and eventually rose to the rank of captain. After the war, he studied law, gained admittance to the state bar in 1865 and began practicing law in Quitman, Georgia
. In 1874, Turner was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives
in the State Assembly
and served in that capacity until 1876. He also served as a delegate to the 1876 Democratic National Convention
.
After two more terms in 1878 and 1879 in the state house, Turner was elected to the 47th United States Congress
as a Democratic
Representative
. He was re-elected to Congress for seven additional terms until deciding not to run in 1896.
After his political service, Turner returned to his law practice in Quitman. In 1903, he was appointed as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Turner died the next year in Raleigh, North Carolina
and was buried in West End Cemetery in Quitman. Turner County, Georgia
is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, teacher, jurist and soldier.
Biography
Turner was born near HendersonHenderson, North Carolina
Henderson, with a population of 16,095 at the 2000 census, is the county seat of Vance County, North Carolina, United States.The city was named in honor of former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Leonard Henderson, who lived nearby and was a friend of early settler Lewis Reavis...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(UVA) in Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
in 1857 before moving to Brooks County
Brooks County, Georgia
Brooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, in 1859 to teach school.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Turner enlisted as a private in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and eventually rose to the rank of captain. After the war, he studied law, gained admittance to the state bar in 1865 and began practicing law in Quitman, Georgia
Quitman, Georgia
This article is about the Georgia city. For the county in the same state see Quitman County, Georgia.Quitman is a city in Brooks County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,638 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Brooks County....
. In 1874, Turner was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
in the State Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
and served in that capacity until 1876. He also served as a delegate to the 1876 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
.
After two more terms in 1878 and 1879 in the state house, Turner was elected to the 47th United States Congress
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He was re-elected to Congress for seven additional terms until deciding not to run in 1896.
After his political service, Turner returned to his law practice in Quitman. In 1903, he was appointed as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Turner died the next year in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and was buried in West End Cemetery in Quitman. Turner County, Georgia
Turner County, Georgia
Turner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2010, the population was 8,930. The county seat is Ashburn.-History:The County is named for Henry Gray Turner, U.S...
is named in his honor.