Background
Fred Stark Pearson was born on July 3, 1861 in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of Ambrose and Hannah (Edgerly) Pearson.
Fred Stark Pearson was born on July 3, 1861 in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. He was the son of Ambrose and Hannah (Edgerly) Pearson.
Fred Stark Pearson entered Tufts College in 1879, studied during the following year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and then returned to Tufts where he graduated in 1883.
In 1883 - 1886, while Fred Stark Pearson served at Tufts as instructor in mathematics and applied mechanics, he pursued further studies and conducted investigations for various commercial interests. From 1889 to 1893 he was engaged in the electrification of the West End Street Railway of Boston, Massachussets Cars had been run by electricity before, but this was the first system of electric traction to be operated on a great scale and for many years it was the model for all who sought to equip electric railways. The generators at the main power plant were increased at his direction from 120 to 500 horse power, a step so unprecedented that the Westinghouse Company refused to bid on the work. The late George Westinghouse considered this project as epoch-making in the development of the dynamo. Throughout his life Pearson led his profession in making demands upon manufacturers for increasing the size of machinery to the highest practical efficiency. He was responsible for the introduction of electric street cars in Brooklyn, in connection with which project he designed and erected what was then the largest and most modern electric power station.
For the Metropolitan Street Railway Company of New York City with which Fred Stark Pearson was associated from 1894 to 1899, he devised and put into successful operation the underground conduit or trolley. It still remains practically as he left it. For this company he designed and erected the 96th Street Power House, at the time (1896) the largest in the country with a total generating capacity of 70, 000 horse power. During this period he was in great demand as consulting engineer for electric railways and power transmission lines in the United States, in Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, and England. Pearson also served as chief engineer for the Dominion Coal Company, refusing at one time the presidency of that concern. Pearson's interests were largely transferred to foreign countries after 1899. In Brazil, he undertook the task of furnishing power to the city of S030 Paulo by developing the Rio Tietê.
At the Falls of Necaxa in Mexico, Fred Stark Pearson built a plant transmitting between 100, 000 and 200, 000 horse power to the city of Mexico ninety-five miles away. Later he constructed a plant of about the same magnitude at Niagara Falls for supplying electric light and power to Toronto 100 miles distant. At Lac de Bonnet, on the Winnipeg River, he built a 25, 000 horse power plant for the city of Winnipeg, Canada. The development of a power plant of about 40, 000 horse power for the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was his next great enterprise, and this was followed by his last important work, the development of the Ebro River for the general use of the city of Barcelona, Spain. The World War, however, interrupted this work when it was near completion. In addition to his achievements in electrical engineering, Pearson directed many enterprises in other fields, mining, railroading, lumbering, and irrigation.
Fred Stark Pearson and his wife lost their lives when the Lusitania was sunk on May 7, 1915.
Fred Stark Pearson was a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineer (AIEE).
Close to six feet in height, Fred Stark Pearson was thin and wiry. He was built like a greyhound, or a distant marathon runner. Fred Pearson had a great sense of humor. An associate recalled the burst of laughter before the start of every business meeting. Person had great mental capabilities. His memory was extraordinary - read and dictated business telegrams using private codes without going through any translation steps. His reputation was global and stellar.
Quotes from others about the person
"Pearson was a man of tireless energy. Every subject that he touched he seemed to absorb and master as though he had a special aptitude for every science. His versatility of intellect was marked by all who knew him. He possessed a constructive and creative imagination without which he could never have achieved the enormous works he left, involving, as they did, great originality and prompt comprehension of complicated situations. "
To indulge his love of nature, Fred Stark Pearson developed and managed a beautiful estate of thousands of acres in the hill country of western Massachusetts. He and his wife Mabel both loved to travel. They spoke multiple languages to facilitate their journeys around the world. According to a newspaper reporter, he spoke French, German, Spanish and Portuguese, as though any of the four tongues were his own.
Fred Stark Pearson was married on January 5, 1887, to Mabel Ward, of Lowell, Massachussets. They had two sons and one daughter.
