A.A. Pearson
Encyclopedia
Arthur Anselm Pearson was an English
mycologist
.
, where he spent the rest of his working career, eventually becoming chairman of the firm. He had an interest in music, especially madrigals
, folk song, and folk dancing, joining the English Folk Dance Society
in 1924 and helping with the publication of the Folksong Index.
, mycologist at the Natural History Museum
. Pearson's initial papers, co-authored by E.M. Wakefield
, were on British corticioid fungi
and heterobasidiomycetes, but he subsequently developed an expertise in the taxonomy
of agarics, publishing a series of papers on this group of fungi from 1919 to 1952. In 1948 he produced a checklist of British species, co-authored with Dr R.W.G. Dennis of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
. Pearson spoke several European languages, collected fungi in Spain and Portugal (on which he wrote brief papers), was an active member of the Société Mycologique de France, and was credited with introducing new, continental ideas on modern agaric taxonomy into Britain. In 1948 he was invited to survey fungi in South Africa, publishing a number of new species as a result. His last works were a series of keys to British agaric genera, several of which were published posthumously by his friend and fellow mycologist P.D. Orton
.
A.A. Pearson was elected president of the British Mycological Society
in 1931 and again in 1952. He was also president of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union in 1946 and a fellow of the Linnean Society
. He described several new species of fungi and at least eight species of fungi are named after him, including Cortinarius pearsonii, Paullicorticium pearsonii, and Squamanita pearsonii.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
mycologist
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
.
Background and career
Arthur Anselm Pearson was born in London, but educated in Belgium. After leaving school he worked as a seaman before joining the firm of British Belting & Asbestos Ltd in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, where he spent the rest of his working career, eventually becoming chairman of the firm. He had an interest in music, especially madrigals
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
, folk song, and folk dancing, joining the English Folk Dance Society
English Folk Dance and Song Society
The English Folk Dance and Song Society was formed in 1932 when two organisations merged: the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dance Society. The EFDSS, a member-based organisation, was incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee in 1935 and became a Registered Charity The English Folk...
in 1924 and helping with the publication of the Folksong Index.
Researches in mycology
Around 1910 he began to research the larger fungi, encouraged by John RamsbottomJohn Ramsbottom (mycologist)
John Ramsbottom was a British mycologist.He was Keeper of Botany at the British Museum . He served as general secretary and twice as president of the British Mycological Society, and was long editor of its Transactions. He was president of the Linnean Society from 1937 to 1940 and was awarded...
, mycologist at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
. Pearson's initial papers, co-authored by E.M. Wakefield
Elsie Maud Wakefield
Elsie Maud Wakefield was an English mycologist and plant pathologist.-Background and education:Miss Wakefield was born in Birmingham, the daughter of a science teacher...
, were on British corticioid fungi
Corticioid fungi
The corticioid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota typically having effused, smooth basidiocarps that are formed on the undersides of dead attached or fallen branches. They are sometimes colloquially called crust fungi or patch fungi...
and heterobasidiomycetes, but he subsequently developed an expertise in the taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of agarics, publishing a series of papers on this group of fungi from 1919 to 1952. In 1948 he produced a checklist of British species, co-authored with Dr R.W.G. Dennis of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
. Pearson spoke several European languages, collected fungi in Spain and Portugal (on which he wrote brief papers), was an active member of the Société Mycologique de France, and was credited with introducing new, continental ideas on modern agaric taxonomy into Britain. In 1948 he was invited to survey fungi in South Africa, publishing a number of new species as a result. His last works were a series of keys to British agaric genera, several of which were published posthumously by his friend and fellow mycologist P.D. Orton
P.D. Orton
Peter Darbishire Orton was an English mycologist, specializing in agarics.- Background and education :Peter Darbishire Orton was born in Plymouth, the son of marine scientist, J.H. Orton. He was educated at Oundle School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read Natural Sciences, Music and...
.
A.A. Pearson was elected president of the British Mycological Society
British Mycological Society
The British Mycological Society is a learned society established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi.-Formation:The Society was formed based on the efforts of two local societies, the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club of Hereford and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford...
in 1931 and again in 1952. He was also president of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union in 1946 and a fellow of the Linnean Society
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
. He described several new species of fungi and at least eight species of fungi are named after him, including Cortinarius pearsonii, Paullicorticium pearsonii, and Squamanita pearsonii.
Selected publications
- Pearson, A.A. (1921). New British hymenomycetes. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 7: 55-58.
- Pearson, A.A. (1948). The genus Russula. Naturalist (London) 1948: 85-108.
- Pearson, A.A. (1950). Cape agarics and boleti. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 33: 276-316.
- Pearson, A.A. (1954). The genus Inocybe. Naturalist (London) 1954: 117-140.
- Pearson, A.A. & Dennis, R.W.G. (1948). Revised list of British agarics and boleti. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 31: 145-190.