Naval Appointment of Peter Turner signed by President Andrew Jackson

Partially printed document signed, on vellum with embossed stamp and placed in the upper left part. Dated in Washington, June 18, 1831, to Peter Turner (1803-1871), naming him an approved Midshipman in the United States Navy with rank from March 23, 1829.

Signed by President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) and Secretary of the Navy Levi Woodbury (1789-1851).

Document belonging to the Turner family of Newport, Rhode Island. June 18, 1831.

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 nine children born to 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 particularly liked reusing 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.

This website is developed by Westcom, Ltd., and updated by Ezequiel Foster © 2019-2022.