Definition
Joseph Turner (1701–1783) was a British‑born American seaman, merchant, iron manufacturer, and politician in colonial and early post‑revolutionary Philadelphia. He is noted for his extensive commercial enterprises, civic involvement, and staunch Loyalist stance during the American Revolution.
Overview
Born in Hampshire, England, Turner emigrated with his parents to Philadelphia in 1714. He first appears in city records as a sea captain in 1724 and later as a businessman. By the mid‑18th century he had formed a partnership with William Allen, chief justice of Pennsylvania, creating the firm Allen and Turner, one of the colonies’ most prominent commercial enterprises. Their activities spanned trans‑Atlantic trade, iron mining and manufacturing (including the Union Iron Works in present‑day High Bridge, New Jersey), and the importation of enslaved Africans, which was then legal.
Turner also engaged in land speculation, acquiring the tract that would become Allentown in 1732 before selling it to Allen two years later. Politically, he served on the Philadelphia City Council (1729), as an alderman (1741), and on the provincial council of Pennsylvania (1747). In 1745 he was elected mayor of Philadelphia but declined the unpaid office, incurring a fine; a similar refusal followed a second election.
During the Revolutionary War (1775–1783), Turner remained a loyal subject of the British Crown, a position that placed him among the minority of Pennsylvania Loyalists. He died in 1783 at approximately 82 years of age. Turner Street in Allentown’s Center City bears his name in commemoration.
Etymology / Origin
The given name “Joseph” derives from the Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yosef), meaning “he will add.” The surname “Turner” is of English occupational origin, historically referring to a craftsman who operates a lathe to shape wood or metal. Both elements reflect Turner’s English heritage.
Characteristics
- Maritime career: Early identification as a sea captain (1724).
- Commercial activities: Partnered with William Allen; involved in trade, iron production, and the trans‑Atlantic slave trade.
- Landowner: Acquired and sold substantial tracts, including the future site of Allentown.
- Civic service: Held multiple municipal and provincial offices; elected mayor (twice declined).
- Loyalist affiliation: Maintained allegiance to Britain throughout the Revolution.
- Cultural participation: Member of Benjamin Franklin’s Junto, the Dancing Assembly of 1748, and a founder/trustee of the Academy and Charitable School of Philadelphia and the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania).
Related Topics
- Loyalists in the American Revolution (especially from Pennsylvania)
- William Allen (merchant and partner)
- Union Iron Works (New Jersey)
- History of Philadelphia’s municipal government
- Early American slave trade
- Founding of the University of Pennsylvania
- Early American iron industry
- Junto (Benjamin Franklin’s intellectual club)