He was educated at various private schools, and then apprenticed to a local physician, Dr Christopher Johnston.
[3] In 1861 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposer being John Goodsir.
[4] He came to fame in 1857 with the publication of the nationally acclaimed "Atlas of Human Anatomy and Physiology", a remarkable work for someone of only 25.
One of the founders and conductors of the Journal of Anatomy and Physiology and author of many papers in it.
"[9] Turner was best known as a brain surgeon, and published various valuable papers on the subject.
[13] In later life he lived at 6 Eton Terrace overlooking Dean Bridge.
[17] Turner House in Pollock Halls of Residence at the University of Edinburgh is named after him.
[18] He is one of several figures of the Victorian age depicted on the Victoria monument in Dalton Square, Lancaster,UK.