George Pearson, M.D., was born in 1751, at Rotherham in Yorkshire; and after a good preliminary education was sent to Edinburgh, between which, Leyden and London, he pursued his medical studies. He took the degree of doctor of medicine at Edinburgh in 1774 (D.M.I. de Putredine Animalibus post Mortem superveniente). Dr. Pearson settled in the first instance at Doncaster, but subsequently removed to London; was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 25th June, 1784; and elected physician to St. George’s hospital 23rd February, 1787. He was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society 30th June, 1791, For a long series of years he lectured on chemistry, materia medica, and the practice of physic. As a lecturer he was plain, distinct, comprehensive, and impressively energetic, and on many occasions he was argumentative, often witty, and even eloquent when a favourite subject was the object of display. His lectures were always popular, and to the last he commanded a numerous class. As a practitioner he was judicious and safe rather than strikingly acute or original. He was a sound Latin scholar, a disinterested friend, a good-humoured and jocose companion; he abounded in anecdotes, which in his lectures, equally as in society, he told with excellent effect. He was a passionate admirer of Shakespeare, was in the constant habit of quoting him, and left in manuscript some clever commentaries on the great dramatic bard. He and Kemble knew each other at Doncaster, and their intimacy continued long after. Dr. Pearson continued in practice to the last. He died at his house in Hano-ver-square, from a fall down stairs, on the 9th November, 1828, aged seventy-seven. He was a frequent contributor to the " Philosophical Transactions," and the author of the following works:—
Observations and Experiments for Investigating the Chemical History of the Tepid Springs of Buxton. 2 vols. 8vo. Lond. 1783.
Directions for Impregnating the Buxton Waters with its own and other Gases, and for composing Artificial Buxton Waters. 8vo. Lond. 1785.
Translation of the Table of Chemical Nomenclature proposed by De Gayton, &c. 4to. Lond. 1795.
An Inquiry concerning the History of the Cow-pock, principally with a view to supersede and extinguish the Small-pox. 8vo. Lond.1798.
Experiments and Observations on the Constituent Parts of the Potatoe Root. 4to. Lond.
The Substance of a Lecture on the Inoculation of the Cow-pock. 8vo. Lond. 1798.
Arranged Catalogue of the Articles of Food, Seasoning, and Medicine, for the use of Lectures on Therapeutics and Materia Medica. 8vo. Lond. 1801.
An Examination of the Report of the Committee of the House of Commons on the Claims of Remuneration for the Vaccine Pock Inoculation. 8vo. Lond. 1802.
Report on the Cow-pock Inoculation during the years 1800, 1801, and 1802. 8vo. Lond. 1803.
A Statement of Evidence from Trials of Variolous and Vaccine Matter in Inoculation, to judge whether or no a person can undergo the Small-pox after being affected with the Cow-pock. 8vo. Lond. 1804.
A Communication to the Board of Agriculture on the use of Green Vitriol or Sulphate of Iron as a Manure. 4to. Lond. 1805.
A Syllabus of Lectures on the Practice of Medicine. 8vo. Lond.
An Address to the Heads of Families, by one of the Physicians to the Vaccine Pock Institution.
A Paper containing the Results of Eleven Years’ Practice at the Original Vaccine Pock Institution. 8vo. Lond. 1811.

William Munk