Ernest Vivian Pearce died at his home in Wonersh, Surrey, on 1st December, 1958, at the age of 82.
Mr. Pearce studied chemistry and metallurgy at the Camborne School of Mines between 1893 and 1895, and in the following year was appointed chief chemist at the Mellanear tin smelting works of Williams Harvey and Co., Ltd., in Hayle, Cornwall, of which his father, Gilbert B. Pearce, was managing director. The son was made assistant manager in 1905, but left in 1909 for work abroad, rejoining the company at Bootle, Liverpool, in January, 1927, as general manager.
During the intervening period from 1909 to 1927 Mr. Pearce worked in Malaya, Austria, Chile, South Africa, and the United States.
When Consolidated Tin Smelters, Ltd., was formed in December, 1929, to acquire the assets and undertaking of Williams Harvey and Co., Ltd., Eastern Smelting Co., Ltd., the Cornish Tin Smelting Co., Ltd., and the Penpoll Tin Smelting Co., Ltd., Mr. Pearce became a director of the parent company and was appointed general manager in May, 1930. Five years later he was made managing director and chairman of the company. He resigned the executive post towards the end of 1947 and the position of chairman in June, 1953, but retained his seat on the board of directors until his death.
Mr. Pearce was elected to Associate Membership of the Institution in 1907, and had been a Fellow of the Chemical Society.
Vol. 69, Trans I.M.M., 1959-60, p.83
