Capt. Larkin Turner is an apt illustration of the force of character. Born in Grafton, Mass., in the house of his grandfather, Col. Luke Drury, a combination of circumstances supplied him with his Christian name, which he received, without any relationship existing between the families, from Dea. John Larkin, of Charlestown, Mass. Having received his preliminary education of six months during the Winters, when nothing different could be found for him to do, at the age of fourteen he as "put out" to learn the trade of shoemaker. Soon, however, he conceived the idea of entering into something more active. His ardent temperament suggested to him the sea; and as his uncle, John Drury, was in the practice of medicine at Marblehead, Mass., thither he repaired. Here, scarce sixteen years of age, he commenced in his new career under that uncle's guidance. And, after passing through all the grades of an arduous seafaring life, resulting, at the age of twenty-two, in the command of a vessel from the counting house of that prince of merchants, William Gray, Esq.

A strict disciplinarian, severe as occasion called, cautious in management on shipboard, and to his crews ever kind, treating them with parental anxiety. During near forty years there were few parts of the world to which he had not navigated, and few experiencing less accidents usually resulting therefrom.

The want of early education beset him at every turn; but his indomitable perseverance supplied the deficiency. He gave himself instruction as occasion called for new efforts; enabling him, as a merchant and ship master, to take high rank in the business undertaken.

His modest and gentlemanly bearing at once gained him friends, and caused in him to be placed implicit confidence. In 1831, John Randolph, of Roanoke, then minister plenipotentiary to the Russian court, did him the honor to make him his confidential agent and bosom friend. And in the years 1836 and 1837 he was twice sent to the Massachusetts Legislature, to represent his adopted town of Charlestown, declining the tender made of him of a third nomination.

In 1832, after an eventful life incident only to a sailor, and seeing an extra "shot in his locker," he concluded to moor his yet sturdy bark in that happy haven, in the bosom of his family, in perfect health, at his country seat in the patriotic town of Lexington, Mass. (Written by Thomas Larkin Turner, ca. 1850)