Politician (1872–1937)
Sir William George Turner (1872 – 14 June 1937) was an American-born unionist politician in Northern Ireland , who served as Lord Mayor of Belfast for over five years.
Life
Born in United States,[ 1] Turner became a fruiterer on the Shankill Road .
He first stood for election to Belfast Corporation in the Cliftonville ward in 1909. Although he was officially an independent Unionist , he had the backing of the local Conservative Party . However, he was defeated by the footballer William Kennedy Gibson .[ 2] Turner was later successful as an Ulster Unionist Party candidate for the city council. He served as Lord Mayor of Belfast from 1923 to 1928; his mayoralty also made him an ex-officio member of the Senate of Northern Ireland .
He was knighted in 1924, while in 1927 he was appointed to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland .[ 1]
Arms
Coat of arms of William George Turner
Notes
Granted 8 August 1929 by Sir Nevile Rodwell Wilkinson , Ulster King of Arms .[ 3]
Crest
A lion rampant of the field charged with a bell Or.
Escutcheon
Gules on a pale Argent a dexter hand appaume couped at the wrist between two pomegranates Proper on a chief Ermine a bell Or.
Motto
Diligentia Cresco
References