Shallet Turner

Shortly after Turner's appointment as regius professor, a government clerk asked him for information on his work.

Turner replied that it was more than seven years since a list of King's Scholars had been made, that all such places were currently vacant, and that the documents and nomination forms could be found in the office of the Secretary of State.

[3] At the end of the Summer Term of 1737, Thomas Gray wrote with heavy irony to Horace Walpole – Not to tire you with my travels, you must know that Mr. Turner is come down.

The antiquary William Cole (1714–1782) wrote of Turner – He never resided in the University, but only occasionally with Dr Smith at Trinity College Lodge, being a great acquaintance.

As to reading lectures he never thought it incumbent upon him to do so: but allowed some small pittance to the French and Italian teachers in the University.

[12][13] In 1748, Turner was a subscriber to Colin Maclaurin's Account of Sir Isaac Newton's philosophical discoveries.

[14] In 1748, Turner resigned his fellowship of Peterhouse,[1] and in 1749 Thomas Gooch, as Bishop of Ely, filled the vacancy by appointing one Edward Osborne.

[18] Sir Edmund Gosse, in his biography of Thomas Gray, notes that the post held by Turner came to be seen as a complete sinecure.