
This Day In History: June 17 is the 200th anniversary of shipbuilder Matthew Turner‘s birth.
We think he was pretty cool, in fact, so cool that we named our brigantine after him! He built more sailing vessels (228) than any other single shipbuilder in America and can be considered “the ‘grandaddy’ of big time wooden shipbuilding on the Pacific Coast.”
Today, his legacy lives on through the Matthew Turner. At Call of the Sea, we celebrate his legacy and his spirit of innovation and craftsmanship by connecting thousands of young people to the ocean, to science, and to the values of teamwork, resilience, and stewardship.
During his career as a ship’s captain he twice received recognition of his heroism and the services that he rendered to foreign governments. He was given a gold-mounted spyglass by Queen Victoria in recognition of his part in saving the lives of British sailors. The Norwegian government presented him with a silver service for his rescue of a Norwegian vessel in danger of foundering at Honolulu.
Turner also built some of the fastest racing yachts in the world, proven out during the famous races sponsored by the San Francisco Yacht Club, of which Turner was a charter member.