Tomkyns Hilgrove Turner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Hilgrove Turner
|
|
|---|---|
Portrait by unknown artist of General Sir (Tomkyns) Hilgrove Turner
|
|
| Born | 12 January 1764 Uxbridge (Middlesex, England) |
| Died | 6 May 1843 (aged 79) Grouville (Jersey, Channel Isles) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Garrison of Jersey |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order |
General Sir Tomkyns Hilgrove Turner (1764 – 1843), often known as Sir Hilgrove Turner, was an important British military officer. He is most famous for bringing the ancient Rosetta Stone from Egypt to England.
Contents
A Military Career Begins
Sir Hilgrove Turner started his army career on February 20, 1782. He joined the Third Regiment of Foot Guards as an Ensign. An Ensign was a junior officer rank, similar to a second lieutenant today. By 1792, he had been promoted to Lieutenant and Captain.
Bringing the Rosetta Stone to England
One of the most famous parts of Turner's life involves the Rosetta Stone. This ancient stone helped experts understand Egyptian hieroglyphs. In September 1801, Turner was on a captured French ship, the HMS Egyptienne. This ship was sailing to England, carrying the Rosetta Stone.
Turner claimed he personally took the Stone from a French general named Jacques-François Menou. He said he carried it away on a gun carriage. He also stated that the French tried to damage the Stone by removing its packaging and throwing it face down. However, there are other stories about how the British got the Stone. So, we don't know for sure if his account is completely accurate.
Promotions and Important Roles
After this, Turner continued to rise through the ranks. In 1801, he became a Colonel. By 1808, he was a Major-General. He also became the Colonel of the 19th Regiment of Foot in 1811. This was a different rank from his overall army rank.
Turner held several important positions outside of direct combat. From 1812 to 1830, he worked for King George IV as a Groom of the Bedchamber. This was a personal attendant role. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey from 1814 to 1816. Later, he became the Governor and military Commander-in-chief of Bermuda from 1826 to 1832. Bermuda was an important military base at that time. In 1827, he received a high honor, becoming a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order.
Personal Life and Family
Tomkyns Hilgrove Turner was born to Richard Turner and Magdalen Hilgrove. His father was a surgeon from Uxbridge, England. His mother was from Jersey. In 1839, his daughter, Charlotte Esther Turner, married Henry Octavius Coxe. Coxe later became a famous librarian at Oxford University.
