Richard Pearce died at his residence in London on May 18th, 1927, in his 90th year.
He was a Cornishman by birth and received his technical education at the Royal School of Mines in the old
Jermyn Street days. After graduating he spent five years as lecturer to the Miners’ Association of Cornwall and Devon. In 1865 he was appointed manager of the Morfa silver works at Swansea, where he remained for about seven yours.
In 1872 he went to the United States, where he took a very prominent part in the development of smelting operations, especially in Colorado. Dr. Pearce returned to England in 1907, and in conjunction with his son was largely instrumental in reorganizing tin smelting practice in this country, more particularly by establishing a new smelting works for Williams, Harvey & Co., at Bootle, Liverpool.
In 1924 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Institution ‘in recognition of his life-long services in the advancement of metallurgical science and practice.’
Dr. Pearce was elected a Member of the Institution in 1901.
Vol. 41, Trans I.M.M., 1931-32, pp.658-9
