President Abraham Lincoln Appoints Future Newport Commodore Peter Turner Commander of the United States Navy

"Know that, relying especially on the patriotism, courage, fidelity and abilities of Peter Turner, I nominated him and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, named him Commander of the Navy on the Reserve List from July 1 1861 in the service of the United States."

Partially engraved document signed by Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) as President of the United States and Gideon Welles (1802-1878) as Secretary of the Navy. Washington, D.C., July 15, 1862.

Peter Turner (1803-1871) / Commodore

Peter Turner (Rhode Island, United States; February 17, 1803 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; February 19, 1871) was a United States Navy commander who served aboard the USS Constitution in the Pacific and the USS Columbus within the Brazil Squadron.

Peter Turner was one of the nine children of Dr. William Turner (1775-1837) and Mehitable Foster Turner (1780-1853), who shared the name with his great-uncle and probably a score of other Turners, as they especially liked to reuse names.

He married Sarah Stafford Jones (1826-1875) and together they had five children, including Hettie Foster (1850-1937).

He made his career in the United States Navy, serving forty-eight years and rising from Midshipman to Commodore. At the age of 20 he was appointed midshipman and later obtained the rank of lieutenant on December 20, 1832.

From 1834 to 1835, he served on the USS Columbus in the Brazil Squad of his uncle, Commodore Daniel Turner (1794-1850). He also served aboard the USS Constitution in the Pacific and later on special duty at the Portsmouth Navy Yard.

He was appointed Commodore in 1862 and his last cruise was on the USS Southampton before serving as Commander of the United States Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, where he remained until his death in 1871.

Peter Turner died at the age of 68 in Rhode Island and his remains rest in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

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