Thomas Turner first attended the Richmond Academy and then the Centre College in Danville in 1840.
In November 1854, Turner moved to Mount Sterling, where he practiced law.
Between 1861 and 1863 he served as a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives for Kentucky.
Turner was elected in 1876 to represent the ninth district of Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding Republican John D. White.
After leaving Congress, Turner retired from politics.