William Turner (MP for Blackburn)
Encyclopedia
William Turner was an English Liberal Party
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1841.
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. Turner married his cousin Jane and acquired an estate at Shrigley Hall
in Cheshire
. He served as High Sheriff of Cheshire
in 1826. In 1827 his only daughter Ellen was tricked into eloping with Edward Gibbon Wakefield, an unscrupulous fortune hunter. They married in Gretna Green. The case was known as the Shrigley abduction
, and the marriage was later annulled by the House of Lords
. Wakefield was jailed for 3 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 Bull 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. It rains; it will wet you and will wet me. Good night. Give us three cheers.” He then went into the inn and bought barrels of beer for the crowds. Turner was elected Member of Parliament
for Blackburn and held the seat until the 1841 general election
, when he was defeated by the Conservative Party
candidate John Hornby.
In 1833, William and his wife built almshouses on Bank Top Blackburn.
Turner died at his home in Mill Hill at the age of 65 and was buried in St. Johns churchyard Blackburn.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1841.
Shrigley Hall
Shrigley Hall is a former country house standing to the northwest of the village of Pott Shrigley, Cheshire, England. It has since been used as a school, when a chapel was added, and later as a hotel and country club.-History:...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He served as High Sheriff of Cheshire
High Sheriff of Cheshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1826. In 1827 his only daughter Ellen was tricked into eloping with Edward Gibbon Wakefield, an unscrupulous fortune hunter. They married in Gretna Green. The case was known as the Shrigley abduction
Shrigley Abduction
The Shrigley abduction was an 1827 British case of a forced marriage by Edward Gibbon Wakefield to the 15-year-old heiress Ellen Turner of Pott Shrigley. The couple were married in Gretna Green, Scotland and traveled to Calais before Turner's father was able to notify the police and intervene...
, and the marriage was later annulled by the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Wakefield was jailed for 3 years.
The Turners were popular in Blackburn and William was much liked as an employer. At the 1832 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1832
-Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807....
, he ran for the newly created constituency of Blackburn
Blackburn (UK Parliament constituency)
Blackburn is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The town currently elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It has elected Labour MPs since its re-creation in 1955.-Boundaries:The constituency...
, “almost like a bomb shell, offering himself to the Free and independent electors of both parties”. He made an election speech outside the Old Bull 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. It rains; it will wet you and will wet me. Good night. Give us three cheers.” He then went into the inn and bought barrels of beer for the crowds. Turner was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Blackburn and held the seat until the 1841 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1841
-Seats summary:-Whig MPs who lost their seats:*Viscount Morpeth - Chief Secretary for Ireland*Sir George Strickland, Bt*Sir Henry Barron, 1st Baronet-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987...
, when he was defeated by the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate John Hornby.
In 1833, William and his wife built almshouses on Bank Top Blackburn.
Turner died at his home in Mill Hill at the age of 65 and was buried in St. Johns churchyard Blackburn.