William Turner Sr.

From PotC Wiki

William Turner

Biographical information
Gender	Male
Born	Glasgow, Scotland
Family	Will Turner (son) William Turner's mother (wife) Elizabeth Swann (daughter-in-law) William Turner III (grandson)
Alias	"Bootstrap" "Bootstrap Bill"
Statistics
Weapon(s) owned	Knife wooden spear Cutlass
Ship(s) captained or crewed	Black Pearl Flying Dutchman
Affiliation	Jack Sparrow Hector Barbossa Davy Jones Will Turner
Behind the scenes
First appearance	Dead Man's Chest
Latest appearance	At World's End
Portrayer	Stellan Skarsgård
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"Good man. Good pirate. I swear you look just like him."

―Jack Sparrow to William Turner^[src]

William Turner, also known as Bill Turner though more commonly referred to as Bootstrap or Bootstrap Bill, was the father of Will Turner.^[1] He was born in Glasgow, Scotland.^[2]^[3]

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

"I knew him. Probably one of the few who knew him as William Turner. Everyone else just called him "Bootstrap" or "Bootstrap Bill"."

―Jack Sparrow to William Turner^[src]

Not much was known about Bill Turner's early life. He may possibly have begun sailing as a merchant, as his son initially believed. Before he became a pirate, Bill met his wife and had his first son, Will Turner. Somewhere along the line, Bill became a pirate. Most likely, Jack Sparrow met "Bootstrap" shortly before or after this happened.^[1]

[edit] Life on the Black Pearl

"It never sat right with "Bootstrap" what we did to Jack. He said it wasn't right with the code."

―Pintel^[src]

After Jack had the Black Pearl raised from the sea by Davy Jones, "Bootstrap" was one of the pirates to join Sparrow's crew. When Hector Barbossa's mutiny took place, "Bootstrap" felt opposed to it, though went along with it as he had little other choice. He was kept on board long enough to earn his share of the Aztec gold—and was thus able to send a piece to his son in Glasgow, after learning of the curse. Eventually, Barbossa became angry with Bill, and had him strapped to a cannon by his bootstraps, sending him to the depths.^[1]

[edit] Deal with Davy Jones

"Bootstrap" aboard the Dutchman.

"And I thought that even the tiniest hope of escaping this fate…I would take it. I would trade anything for it."

―William "Bootstrap Bill" Turner to Jack Sparrow^[src]

"Bootstrap" sank to the bottom of the ocean. Since he was cursed, he couldn't die. However, the pressure at the bottom of the ocean made his time there a living hell. Eventually, Davy Jones offered to rescue "Bootstrap" in exchange for a century of service aboard the Flying Dutchman. Bill felt that even a life of servitude would be better than his current existence, and agreed to Jones' deal.^[4] Ten years after the mutiny, Bill was finally freed of the curse, thanks to the efforts of his son and Jack on Isla de Muerta. At this time, William was unaware Bill had escaped his watery fate, and believed that in lifting the curse he had killed his father.^[5]

[edit] Life on the Flying Dutchman

""Bootstrap Bill", you're a liar and you will spend an eternity on this ship!"

―Davy Jones^[src]

"Bootstrap" worked on the Flying Dutchman for years. When Will was captured, he did what he could to help him. He tried to take the flogging Will was punished with so he wouldn't have to endure Jimmy Legs' lashes but he was instead forced to administer them. When Will challenged Davy Jones to a game of Liar's dice, he purposely lost to save Will. As a result, he was sentenced to spend eternity on the Flying Dutchman. Will escaped from Davy Jones, but before he left, promised "Bootstrap" that he'd find a way to free him.

Will's escape enraged Jones, and for his part in it, "Bootstrap" was forced to watch the Kraken attack the Edinburgh Trader (on which William was on board), before being locked in the brig.^[4] He remained aboard when Cutler Beckett assumed control of the ship following his acquisition of the heart of Davy Jones.^[6]

[edit] Madness

"Bootstrap" in the later stages of his transformation.

"William! He's coming for me! He'll come, you'll see…He promised."

―William "Bootstrap Bill" Turner to Elizabeth Swann^[src]

The apparent death of his son caused "Bootstrap" to sink into a state of madness, so much so that the process of assimilation into the Flying Dutchman accelerated, and "Bootstrap"'s humanity began to wane. When Elizabeth Swann was thrown in the brig, she was able to coax "Bootstrap" into a conversation, though it was clear that he remembered little of his life. He still recognized the name of his son, however, and held on to the hope that William had promised to rescue him. When he realized who Elizabeth was, he lost hope for his own redemption. "Bootstrap" told her that Will would have to choose one of them and jokingly stated, "I wouldn't pick me." Elizabeth tried to wake him after he had merged with ship again, but he appeared to have completely forgotten their prior conversation.

When James Norrington freed Elizabeth and the crew of the Empress, "Bootstrap" followed, but in his maddened state, did not realize Norrington's good intentions, believing instead he was leading a prisoner escape. "Bootstrap" drew his sword on Norrington, and stabbed him moments after James ensured Elizabeth's safety. Confused over what he had done, "Bootstrap" simply stood by while Norrington passed away.^[6]

[edit] Sailing with his son

Bill Turner, free from the curse of the Flying Dutchman.

"On the wheel then, Mister Turner."
"Aye, Captain Turner."

―William Turner and William "Bootstrap Bill" Turner^[src]

Bill was still aboard the Flying Dutchman when it came under attack from the Black Pearl around Calypso's maelstrom. "Bootstrap" emerged on deck to find his son onboard, and engaged him in a duel, once more trying to protect the ship. Will quickly disabled his father, but held back from killing him. The sight of his knife, in addition to witnessing Jones mortally wound Will in front of Jack and Elizabeth, finally snapped Bootstrap out of his delirium, and he attacked Jones in a frenzy, but was quickly defeated. Before Jones could finish him off, however, Jack helped Will stab Jones' heart. Soon after, he cut out his son's heart to allow him to take Davy Jones' place as captain of the Flying Dutchman after Jones fell into the maelstrom.

With Will at the helm, the Flying Dutchman participated in the destruction of the Endeavour, and its crew were reverted back into their human forms. Bill Turner was now free to choose to sail aboard the Flying Dutchman, happy to serve under his son.^[6]