William George Turner was the son of Archibald Turner of Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone. After leaving school, he entered the fruit trade and established Turner’s Fruit Markets.

Turner was elected as a councillor for Shankill ward in 1909 and was subsequently elected as the ward’s alderman. He was a member of the Belfast Corporation for twenty-six years and served as Lord Mayor for six consecutive terms from 1923 to 1928. In 1920 Turner was appointed High Sheriff of Belfast and in 1926, he was granted the freedom of the city.

Turner was knighted in 1924 and appointed a member of the Privy Councillor for Northern Ireland in 1927. He retired from public duties in 1935 due to ill health.

Sir William Turner had a keen interest in civil aviation. He was one of the first two passengers on the maiden flight of Northern Airlines, a commercial air mail service.

He died on 13 June 1937, aged sixty-five.