Sir Edward Turner, 2nd Baronet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Edward Turner Bt
MP for Great Bedwyn
In office 1741–1747
Monarch	George II
Prime Minister	Robert Walpole The Earl of Wilmington, Henry Pelham
MP for Oxfordshire
In office 1754–1761
Monarch	George II
Prime Minister	The Duke of Newcastle, The Duke of Devonshire
MP for Penryn
In office 1761–1766
Monarch	George III
Prime Minister	The Duke of Devonshire, The Earl of Bute, George Grenville, The Marquess of Rockingham
Preceded by	John Plumptre
Succeeded by	Francis Basset
Personal details
Born	28 April 1719
Died	31 October 1766
Nationality	British
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Cassandra Leigh
Alma mater	Balliol College, Oxford

Sir Edward Turner, 2nd Baronet (born April 28, 1719 – died October 31, 1766) was an important English politician. He was a member of the Whig party. He served in the Parliament of Great Britain as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1741 until he died in 1766.

Sir Edward Turner's Life Story

Sir Edward Turner was the son of Sir Edward Turner, 1st Baronet, and his wife Mary. A "Baronet" is a special title, like a knight, but it can be passed down in the family.

Early Education and Family

Edward went to Bicester Grammar School when he was young. Later, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford University. People said he was very smart and always well-behaved there.

He married Cassandra Leigh, who was the niece of the head of Balliol College. When his father passed away in 1735, Edward became the 2nd Baronet. Sir Edward Turner died in 1766. His son, Sir Gregory Page-Turner, 3rd Baronet, then became the next Baronet.

Sir Edward's Estates and Homes

Around 1740, Sir Edward Turner built a grand new country house in a place called Ambrosden. It was a large, square house with many windows. His architect, Sanderson Miller, also designed beautiful buildings in the gardens.

Designing the Park and Gardens

A huge landscaped park was created around the house. It was about 8 kilometers (5 miles) around. This park had lovely lakes and statues. The path leading to the house was a curved avenue lined with trees.

Sir Edward's new house became a popular spot for politicians and educated people to meet. Cassandra's uncle, Dr. Leigh, and other smart people from the University of Oxford often visited.

Building a New Road

In 1741, Turner also built a new road between Ambrosden and Merton, Oxfordshire. He wanted to extend it all the way to Oxford, but that part of the plan was never finished. The road was said to be very expensive to build.

One part of the road is completely straight for about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles). Even though the ground is flat, the road goes up and down in gentle waves. This was probably done to help horses pull carriages more easily.

Acquiring Merton Manor

In 1740, another person named Sir James Harington had many gambling debts. He used his estate in Merton as a guarantee for a loan from Turner. Harington was a Jacobite, which meant he supported a different royal family. In 1747, he had to leave the country.

In 1749, Turner took over the Merton estate because Harington couldn't pay back the loan. Since Turner had just built his own big house in Ambrosden, he didn't need the old 16th-century manor house at Merton. So, he had one part of it taken down and the rest turned into a farmhouse.

Sir Edward Turner's Political Career

Sir Edward Turner was a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the country's government, called Parliament.

Representing Great Bedwyn

In the 1741 General Election, Turner was chosen as the MP for Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire. However, he was not re-elected in the next election in 1747.

The Oxfordshire Election of 1754

In the 1754 General Election, Turner ran as one of the two Whig candidates for Oxfordshire. The Whigs were one of the main political parties at the time. Their opponents were the Tory candidates.

Both sides spent a lot of money on their campaigns. They even offered lavish food and drinks to voters to try and win their support. Important local noble families supported the candidates. Turner and his running-mate, Viscount Parker, were supported by powerful figures like the Duke of Marlborough and Earl Harcourt.

Election Results and Parliament's Decision

The two Tory candidates actually received more votes. However, the official in charge of the election declared both pairs of candidates elected. This meant the House of Commons (part of Parliament) had to make the final decision.

Both the Whigs and the Tories complained about the election results. The House of Commons looked into many individual votes. But most MPs voted based on their party loyalty, not just on who had the most legitimate votes. Since the Whigs had more members in the House of Commons, Sir Edward Turner and his fellow Whig candidate were declared the winners.

Later Political Life

Turner did not run for the Oxfordshire seat again in the 1761 General Election. Instead, he successfully ran for MP in Penryn in Cornwall.

In 1764, he bought the manor of Wendlebury, another estate in Oxfordshire. Sir Edward Turner was still an MP when he passed away in 1766.

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