Richard Turner (writer) facts for kids

Richard Turner (born 1753 – died 22 August 1788) was an English author who wrote popular educational books. His works helped many students learn about geography and different subjects in the arts and sciences.

Early Life and Education

Richard Turner was born in 1753. He was the second son of Richard Turner, who was a rector (a type of church leader), and his mother, Sarah. Sarah was the sister of a lawyer named James Greene.

Richard went to Magdalen Hall at the University of Oxford in 1773 to study.

Becoming an Author

After his studies, Richard Turner became a writer. He focused on creating books that made learning easier for people.

In 1780, he published a book called "A New and Easy Introduction to Universal Geography." This book was written as a series of letters, making it simple to understand. It was very popular and was printed many times, reaching its thirteenth edition by 1808!

Three years later, in 1783, he released another successful book: "An Easy Introduction to the Arts and Sciences." This book also became a standard textbook used in schools for a long time. It was so popular that it reached its fourteenth edition by 1811.

Richard Turner also wrote other books, including:

• "A View of the Earth as it was known to the Ancients" (1779)
• "An Epitome of Universal History" (1787)

Family and Later Life

Richard Turner was the brother of Thomas Turner, who was a famous potter.

Richard Turner passed away in Bath on 22 August 1788.