Philip Turnor
British surveyor and cartographer for the Hudson's Bay Company
About Philip Turnor
Lived 1751 – 1800. Philip Turnor was a British explorer and cartographer.
Philip Turnor ( – c. 1799) was a surveyor and cartographer for the Hudson's Bay Company.
Turnor hired on for three years as an inland surveyor with the HBC and landed at York Factory, now in Manitoba, in August 1778. After mapping York itself, he set out to map the route to Cumberland House, now in Saskatchewan, and the newly-established post of Upper Hudson House.
He is credited with exploring and mapping many of the settlements and their connecting rivers and lakes for the company in the late 18th century.
A variety of willow, unique to the sand dunes of Lake Athabasca, is named "Turnor's willow" in his honour. He is credited with teaching David Thompson and Peter Fidler the skills of surveying.
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Important facts
People in Philip Turnor's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Philip Turnor?
British surveyor and cartographer for the Hudson's Bay Company
When was Philip Turnor born?
Philip Turnor was born in 1751 in Laleham.
When did Philip Turnor die?
Philip Turnor died in 1800.
What was Philip Turnor's occupation?
Philip Turnor was an explorer and cartographer.
What nationality was Philip Turnor?
Philip Turnor was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Philip Turnor. https://biography.guide/philip-turnor/
MLA: "Philip Turnor." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/philip-turnor/.
Chicago: "Philip Turnor." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/philip-turnor/.
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