Sketch of George Pearson (1751-1828), English doctor. Pearson was born at Rotherham and studied medicine at Edinburgh. After qualifying in 1777 he settled in Doncaster, but in 1783 moved to London. He was elected chief Physician at St.George?s Hospital in 1783, a post he held for forty years, and was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1791. He presented several papers on medicine and chemistry, most important were the decomposition of water with electric sparks (confirming Cavendish?s theories) and the identification of early bronze weapons. He was a strong supporter of Jenner?s work on smallpox, and did much to champion vaccination.