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Weetman Pearson, son of George Pearson of Brickendonbury in Hertfordshire (1856-1927), was created baronet in 1894 and was raised to the peerage as Baron Cowdray of Midhurst in 1910 and as 1st Viscount Cowdray of Cowdray in 1917. He held positions as President of the family business, S Pearson and Son Ltd, as MP for Colchester, Essex, (Liberal) from 1895-1910, as High Steward of Colchester 1897-1927 and Rector of the University of Aberdeen 1917-1921. During the First World War he was President of the Air Board 1916-1917. He purchased Dunecht in Aberdeenshire from the Earl of Crawford, the house being a Grecian edifice of 1820 with additions in 1877-1881 by Mr G E Street RA.
He was succeeded by his son, also Weetman Pearson, (1882-1933) who followed his father into Parliament, representing the voters of Eye Division in Suffolk (Liberal) 1906-1918. His son, the 3rd Viscount (1910-1995), was severely wounded during the Second World War. After the war he returned to the family business as Chairman 1954-1977 and then President of the newly formed Pearson plc. On his death the title passed to his son, Michael Pearson, 4th Viscount and 4th Baronet (b.1944). |