Turner 2

WILLIAM TURNER (1508 - 1568)

Turner was born in Morpeth and educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he became a firm Puritan. In 1538 he published his Libellus de re herbaria, which was the first book to give localities for native British plants. As a result of his uncompromising religious beliefs, Turner suffered spells of exile abroad, but used his time well to increase his scientific knowledge and took his medical doctorate in Italy. He returned to England in 1547, and was appointed physician to the Lord Protector, the Duke of Somerset. A year later he wrote The Names of Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englische, Duche and Frenche in which he announced his intention of producing a Latin herbal. He changed his mind, however, and used English when writing the first part of his New Herball in 1551, the year he was appointed Dean of Wells. Ultimately running to three volumes, the book was a landmark in the history of botany and herbalism, because it gave physicians their first chance to read in their own language an original study of the plants which were so important to their profession.

Turner's decision to write in English also assisted in promoting the language as a medium for the communication of philiosophical and scientific ideas. He defended his choice vigorously, pointing out that ancient authorities like Dioscorides and Galen had written in their own language without giving 'occasion for every olde wyfe to take in hand the practise of Phisick.' If they were 'no hynderers from the study of lyberall sciences, than am I no hynderer wryting unto the English my countremen, an English herball.' Turner's work broke new ground in the thoroughness and accuracy of its scientific observation. During his lifetime, he was credited with the first sighting and identification of more then 300 native species of plants.

Turner also produced works on ichthyology, ornithology and mineralogy, along with numerous religious tracts. His style is racy and vivid and he intersperses his charming plant descriptions with acerbic social comment and ridicule of the fanciful notions which had become established over time in plant lore. His book on curative baths (1562) contains lists of diseases which exemplify his use of crisp clinical descriptions:

The castyng of children out, before the dew tyme appoynted by nature.
The vayn appetite of going to stoole, when a man can do nothing when he cummeth there.

A fine WILLIAM TURNER Garden has been created in Morpeth.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
WILLIAM TURNER (1508 - 1568) Turner was born in Morpeth and educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he became a firm Puritan. In 1538 he published his Libellus de re herbaria, which was the first book to give localities for native British plants. As a result of his uncompromising religious beliefs, Turner suffered spells of exile abroad, but used his time well to increase his scientific knowledge and took his medical doctorate in Italy. He returned to England in 1547, and was appointed physician to the Lord Protector, the Duke of Somerset. A year later he wrote The Names of Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englische, Duche and Frenche in which he announced his intention of producing a Latin herbal. He changed his mind, however, and used English when writing the first part of his New Herball in 1551, the year he was appointed Dean of Wells. Ultimately running to three volumes, the book was a landmark in the history of botany and herbalism, because it gave physicians their first chance to read in their own language an original study of the plants which were so important to their profession. Turner's decision to write in English also assisted in promoting the language as a medium for the communication of philiosophical and scientific ideas. He defended his choice vigorously, pointing out that ancient authorities like Dioscorides and Galen had written in their own language without giving 'occasion for every olde wyfe to take in hand the practise of Phisick.' If they were 'no hynderers from the study of lyberall sciences, than am I no hynderer wryting unto the English my countremen, an English herball.' Turner's work broke new ground in the thoroughness and accuracy of its scientific observation. During his lifetime, he was credited with the first sighting and identification of more then 300 native species of plants. Turner also produced works on ichthyology, ornithology and mineralogy, along with numerous religious tracts. His style is racy and vivid and he intersperses his charming plant descriptions with acerbic social comment and ridicule of the fanciful notions which had become established over time in plant lore. His book on curative baths (1562) contains lists of diseases which exemplify his use of crisp clinical descriptions: The castyng of children out, before the dew tyme appoynted by nature. The vayn appetite of going to stoole, when a man can do nothing when he cummeth there. A fine WILLIAM TURNER Garden has been created in Morpeth.
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