Richmond Pearson
Encyclopedia
Richmond Pearson was an American diplomat
and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina
.
, the fourth of five children of North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Richmond Mumford Pearson
.
Pearson studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1874. The same year he was appointed United States consul
to Verviers
and Liege, Belgium
, which he resigned in 1877.
Pearson was elected to one term (1884-86) in the North Carolina House of Representatives
and later to two consecutive terms in the U.S. House, serving from 1895 to 1899. When he ran for re-election in 1898, he was initially declared the loser, and William T. Crawford
the winner. But he successfully contested the election and was seated for the last half of the Fifty-sixth Congress (May 10, 1900 to March 1901).
President Theodore Roosevelt
appointed Pearson consul to Genoa
in 1901, ambassador to Persia in 1902, and ambassador to Greece
and Montenegro
in 1907. He retired from the diplomatic service in 1909, and lived most of his later life at his home in Asheville, North Carolina
, called "Richmond Hill
" (the same name as his father's home in Yadkin County). It was there that he died in 1923.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Biography
He was born in Yadkin County, North CarolinaYadkin County, North Carolina
- Cities and towns :*Boonville*East Bend*Jonesville*Yadkinville-Towns of the past:These towns were incorporated at one time:*Arlington, merged with Jonesville in 2001.*Hamptonville, chartered in 1818.*Huntsville, incorporated in 1792....
, the fourth of five children of North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Richmond Mumford Pearson
Richmond Mumford Pearson
Richmond Mumford Pearson was an American jurist who served as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1858 to 1878. He was the father of Congressman Richmond Pearson and the father-in-law of North Carolina Governor Daniel Gould Fowle.Pearson lived much of his life in what is now...
.
Pearson studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1874. The same year he was appointed United States consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
to Verviers
Verviers
Verviers is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. The Verviers municipality includes the old communes of Ensival, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Heusy...
and Liege, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, which he resigned in 1877.
Pearson was elected to one term (1884-86) in the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
and later to two consecutive terms in the U.S. House, serving from 1895 to 1899. When he ran for re-election in 1898, he was initially declared the loser, and William T. Crawford
William T. Crawford
William Thomas Crawford was a Representative from North Carolina.He attended the public schools and Waynesville Academy....
the winner. But he successfully contested the election and was seated for the last half of the Fifty-sixth Congress (May 10, 1900 to March 1901).
President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed Pearson consul to Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
in 1901, ambassador to Persia in 1902, and ambassador to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
in 1907. He retired from the diplomatic service in 1909, and lived most of his later life at his home in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, called "Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill Inn
The Richmond Hill Inn is a 25 room Inn located on the Historic Richmond Hill estate in North Carolina. It had a Queen Anne style mansion that was built in 1889 and has now been gutted by the arson fire. It served as the private residence of ambassador and congressman Richmond Pearson. Its name...
" (the same name as his father's home in Yadkin County). It was there that he died in 1923.