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Edward Turner
Fellow
Date of Fellowship admission: 2/November/1819
Edward Turner was born in Jamaica and came to Edinburgh as a child. He received his MD from the University of Edinburgh in 1819 and in the same year obtained his licence to practise and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He then studied at Göttingen for two years, developing a particular interest in chemistry and mineralogy. On returning to Edinburgh he instituted a course of lectures on chemistry. In 1828 he was appointed to the chair of chemistry at the newly founded University College London, a position he held until his death. Turner was concerned that chemistry relied too heavily on hypothesis and devoted himself to establishing analytical methods for determining atomic weights. His 'Introduction to the Study of the Laws of Chemical Combination and the Atomic Theory' proved highly influential and ran to eight editions.
Legacy of Slavery
Turner’s father, Dutton Smith Turner, was a slave-owner. Whilst Turner did not himself make a claim through the Slave Compensation Commission, he held power of attorney for his brother, William Dutton Turner, aiding him during the claims process.
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Year of medical qualification
2/August/1819
Date of Licence
3/August/1819
Fellowship
The main qualification issued by the College, awarded regularly since the College’s foundation. This qualification was granted based on demonstrated breadth of experience and did not require an individual to pass a certain examination.
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