Matthew Turner was an accomplished American sea captain, shipbuilder, and ship designer who is credited with constructing a total of 285 vessels
. Out of these, 184 were built in his shipyard located in Benicia, California. His remarkable contributions to the shipbuilding industry on the Pacific Coast have earned him the reputation of being the grandfather of big-time wooden shipbuilding in the region. He holds the distinction of being the most prolific builder of sailing vessels in the United States. Turner was known for building unique sailing vessels along the Pacific Coast.