Turton enrolled at Queens College, Cambridge, England, in 1801, moving to Catherine Hall in 1804. He earned a bachelor's degree in theology in 1816, and his Doctor of Divinity in 1828. He was ordained as a deacon at Norwich in 1813, and a priest six months after. He served as dean at Peterborough (1830-1842), dean of Westminster (1842-1845), and bishop of Ely (1845).

His works include:

• •A Vindication of the Literary Character of the late Professor Porson from the Animadversions of the Right Reverend Thomas Burgess, the Lord Bishop of Salisbury

• •The Text of the English Bible as Now Printed by the Universities

• •Natural Theology Considered with reference to Lord Brougham's Discourse on that subject

Pseudonyms:

• •Crito Cantabrigiensis

Music:

• 1.Ely

• 2.St. Ethelreda