During his career as a shipbuilder , Turner designed and built 228 sea going vessels in a period of 37 years , from 1868 to 1905 , more sailing vessels than any other American shipbuilder . According to Gibbs , " although many vessels were small in size , this record was probably never equalled by any other individual shipbuilder in the American era of sail . He further , in all probability , built more vessels for foreign account than any other American since the Revolution . " Turner had business interests in the South Sea Islands , and many of his ships were built for owners in that region . He also specialized in vessels for pelagic sealing . " 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 . " Turner was something of an invalid from 1904 onwards . Nonetheless , in 1906 , at age 81 , Turner , was still personally supervising work at his shipyard , and found himself suddenly swamped with work following the San Francisco earthquake . He decided to retire . He died on February 10 , 1909 at the age of 83 years after a short illness at his home in Oakland
San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Matthew Turner (shipbuilder)