Charles TURNER, Jr., Congress, MA (1760-1839)

TURNER, Charles, Jr., a Representative from Massachusetts; born in Duxbury, Mass., June 20, 1760; received a common-school education at Duxbury and Scituate, Mass.; was commissioned an adjutant in the Massachusetts State Militia in 1787; promoted to major in 1790, and held the rank of lieutenant colonel commandant 1798-1812; appointed first postmaster of Scituate, Mass., in 1800; justice of the peace; member of the State house of representatives in 1803 and 1805-1808; successfully contested as a Republican the election of William Baylies to the Eleventh Congress; reelected to the Twelfth Congress and served from June 28, 1809, to March 3, 1813; chairman, Committee on Accounts (Twelfth Congress); unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Thirteenth Congress; served in the State senate in 1816; again a member of the State house of representatives in 1817, 1819, and 1823; appointed steward of the Marine Hospital at Chelsea, Mass.; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1820; engaged in agricultural pursuits; died in Scituate, Plymouth County, Mass., May 16, 1839; interment in the burial ground of the First Parish of Norwell (formerly Scituate).

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present