Richard Pearson (Royal Navy officer)

For other people named Richard Pearson, see Richard Pearson (disambiguation).

Sir Richard Pearson
Portrait by Charles Grignion the Younger
Born	March 1731 Langton Hall, Appleby-in-Westmorland
Died	January 1806 Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich
Allegiance	Great Britain United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy East India Company
Years of service	1745–1750 (RN) 1750–1755 (EIC) 1755–1806 (RN)
Rank	Captain
Commands	HMS Druid HMS Speedwell HMS Garland HMS Serapis HMS Alarm HMS Arethusa Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich
Battles / wars	War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War Battle of Cuddalore Battle of Negapatam Battle of Pondicherry Battle of Manila American Revolutionary War Battle of Flamborough Head Battle of Ushant
Spouse(s)	Margaret Harrison ​ (m. 1769)​

Captain Sir Richard Pearson (March 1731 – January 1806) was a Royal Navy officer who was captain of the ship HMS Serapis during the American Revolutionary War.

As a lieutenant in the East Indies he served in the Seven Years' War, where he was severely wounded. He was subsequently unable to obtain a commission because his senior officers twice died before they could fulfil their promises. He finally became post-captain in 1773.

In 1779, in command of the 44-gun frigate Serapis and escorting a large convoy from the Baltic, he was attacked off Flamborough Head by a Franco-American squadron under John Paul Jones in the 42-gun Bonhomme Richard. The battle ended in Pearson surrendering Serapis to Jones but not before his spirited defence had covered the escape of the valuable convoy. Bonhomme Richard ended up sinking following the capture of Serapis, forcing Jones to lose his own ship and return to port in Pearson's captured vessel.

Pearson was considered a hero in Britain after the battle. He was knighted, received presents from the merchants and the freedoms of several towns. Jones was later asked how he felt about Pearson being knighted, and reportedly replied: "I'd like to meet him on the high seas again; I'll make him a lord!"

Captain Sir Richd Pearson Knt. Lieutenant Governor of Greenwich Hospital

Pearson's second son was Henry Shepherd Pearson who was Governor of Penang in 1808.

In film

Pearson was portrayed by Peter Cushing in the film John Paul Jones (1959).

External links

• Media related to Richard Pearson (Royal Navy officer) at Wikimedia Commons
• Portrait of Sir Richard Pearson