Cholmley Turner

Chomley Turner (1685–1757) of Kirkleatham, Yorkshire was a British landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1715 and 1747.

Early life and family

Turner was baptized on 20 July 1685, the eldest son of Charles Turner of Kirkleatham and his wife Margaret Cholmley, daughter of Sir William Cholmley, 2nd Baronet, of Whitby, Yorkshire. He matriculated at New College, Oxford in 1701. He was a wealthy country gentleman, and owned properties in Northallerton and along Tees side. He also had lead mining interests in the North Riding of Yorkshire. His great uncle Sir William Turner died in 1693 and bequeathed him a substantial amount of money to establish a Free School, which was built in 1709.

He married Jane Marwood, daughter of George Marwood of Little Busby, Yorkshire in 1709. His daughter, Jane, married Philip William Casimir Van Straubenzee.

Career Turner was returned as a Whig Member of Parliament for Northallerton at the 1715 general election. He followed Robert Walpole into opposition in 1717, and voted against the Government in all recorded divisions. He did not stand at the 1722 general election. In 1725, he was High steward of York. Cholmley Turner also retained the architect James Gibbs for building of the chapel at the almshouses. After his retirement Turner received a Secret Service pension of £500 a year from Pelham, but this was not renewed when Newcastle succeeded to the Treasury.

Turner died 9 May 1757, but his children pre-deceased him.