Background
Pearce was born near Chatham in Kent, where he trained as a shipwright and naval architect at the Chatham Dockyard.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Pearce was born near Chatham in Kent, where he trained as a shipwright and naval architect at the Chatham Dockyard.
He was later a Conservative Party politician. After supervising the construction of HMS Achilles, the first ironclad warship built in Chatham, he moved in 1863 to Scotland to take up the post of surveyor to the Lloyd"s Register on the Clyde. His career then developed rapidly.
In 1886, spending more time on his political career in London, he converted the business to a limited company, the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company.
Pearce remained as chairman. Fairfield became a world leader in ship design and marine engineering, and was most famous for the development of the triple expansion engine.
The shipyard and offices in Govan occupied a site of over 70 acres (28 ha), and employed up to 5000 workers. lieutenant built ships for the major shipping lines, including the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, the New Zealand Shipping Company, and the British and Africa Steam Navigation Company.
Pearce was a major shareholder in the first of these clients, and was also chairman of the Guion Steamship Company, and of the Scottish Oriental Steamship Company.
As one of Govan"s leading businessmen, Pearce took up public office as a Commissioner (councillor) for the Burgh of Govan. His victory was narrow, with a majority of only 155 votes over his Liberal Party opponent. Pearce was re-elected at the 1886 election with a slightly increased majority of 362 votes, and on 21 July 1887 he was made a Baronet, of Cardell in the County of Renfrew.
Pearce died suddenly at the age of 55 in his home on Piccadilly in London, on 18 December 1888.
Their only child was William George Pearce, who succeeded to the baronetcy. His estate was valued for probate purposes at £1,069,669.
His statue still stands at Govan Cross near the Pearce Institute, a building containing a public hall, library and other rooms, which was given to Govan by his widow.
23rd United Kingdom Parliament. 24th United Kingdom Parliament]
He unsuccessfully contested the Glasgow constituency at the 1880 general election, but after the redistribution of seats he was elected at the 1885 general election as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for the new Govan constituency.