2 MEMORIAL NOTICE OF ROBERT TURNER. 



about the year 1865 entered the Custom House, Glasgow, where 

 he remained for about 28 years, attaining the position of Assistant 

 Registrar of Shipping. For more than two years his health had 

 been failing, and last year he resigned his appointment, meaning 

 to reside in retirement at Strathaven, but his continued and 

 aggravated illness never allowed him to leave his house at 

 Hillhead, where he died. He was never married, and his mother, 

 with whom he lived, predeceased him only about two years. His 

 last appearance before our Society, and his last public appearance 

 of any kind, was on 2nd December, 1891, when he delivered a 

 paper on " Trees, Tree-ferns and Palms," which was intended to 

 be followed by a second paper continuing the subject. 



Mr. Turner was a man of great culture and refined tastes. 

 His knowledge of nature and of books was profound; his reading 

 was catholic ; his information extensive ; his memory tenacious ; 

 his conversation illuminative ; and he had the pen of a ready 

 writer. Richly gifted, accomplished, and well-informed on many 

 subjects, he was pre-eminent in the field of natural science, being 

 indeed, one of the best all-round naturalists known in our city. 

 As a botanist he possessed a practical knowledge of the flowering 

 plants of Great Britain ; and, for the purpose of observing and 

 collecting, had visited many parts of the country, from the Channel 

 Islands to Orkney and Shetland. An accomplished geologist, he, 

 one year, carried on the geological classes in Anderson's College 

 with success, in the absence of the lecturer through illness. He 

 also had an acquaintance with other branches of natural science, 

 and was at the same time possessed of great literary taste and 

 ability. Sociable and companionable in nature and in pursuit of his 

 favourite studies, Mr. Turner was a prominent member of several 

 local societies, and a contributor to their work. In 1877 he was 

 a member of the Glasgow Society of Field Naturalists, afterwards 

 amalgamated with the Natural History Society of Glasgow. In 

 the latter Society he repeatedly filled the position of Vice- 

 President and other offices, and contributed papers to its 

 proceedings. He was also a member of the Cryptogamic Society 

 of Scotland, and acted as general secretary when this Society 

 held its show in Glasgow in 1880, and at its meeting in Dumfries, 

 in 1883, he read a paper on "Milldew;" also of the Geological 

 Society of Glasgow ; Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History 



