Edward Turner

Edward Turner (November 25, 1778 – May 23, 1860) was a state legislator, public official, and served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1824 to 1832, and again from 1840 to 1843. Early life He was born in Fairfax County, Virginia and studied at Transylvania University in Kentucky. He settled at Natchez, Mississippi and represented Adams county in the legislature. He also held various other public offices. He moved with his father's family to Kentucky in 1786 where he attended country schools and, at intervals, Transylvania University. In 1799 he was taken into the family of Col. George Nicholas, first law professor of the college, and this enabled him to read law while also clerking for Col. Nicholas until he died that year. Turner continued his studies under professor James Brown, assisted by his elder brother, Fielden L. Turner, who was admitted to the Mississippi bar in 1807. Edward first came down the river for the practice of law, and arrived at Natchez in January, 1802. Says Sparks: "Four brothers emigrated to the country about the same time. Two brothers remained at Natchez, one at Bayou Sara, in Louisiana, and the fourth went to New Orleans. All became distinguished: three as lawyers, who honored the bench in their respective localities, and the fourth as a merchant and planter accumulated an immense fortune." Career Edward Turner was appointed aide-de-camp and private secretary for Governor Claiborne and clerk of the House of Representatives soon after his arrival. He was married in 1802 to a daughter of Cato West, and in August was appointed clerk of the court of Jefferson County, succeeding Col. John Girault.