A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Pearson, Alexander Stevenson
PEARSON. (Commander, 1820. f-p., 18; h-p., 30.)
Alexander Stevenson Pearson (whose name had been borne from 12 April, 1799, until Oct. 1801, on the books of the Royal William, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Admirals Sir Peter Parker and Mark Milbanke) embarked, in Jan. 1803, as Midshipman, on board the Garland 28, Capts. John Serrell and Fred. Cottrell. Removing, in the following Sept., to the Theseus 74, Capt. John Bligh, he served in that ship at the capture of the French squadron with the remains of General Rochambeau’s army from Cape François on board, and also in the unsuccessful attempt upon Curaçoa. While attached next, between Oct. 1805 and June, 1808, to the Powerful 74, Capts. Robt. Plampin, Rich. Buck, Hon. Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, and Chas. Jas. Johnston, he assisted at the capture of the privateers La Henriette of 20 guns and 124 men, and La Bellone of 30 guns and 194 men; at the capture and destruction, 27 Nov. 1806, of a Dutch frigate, seven brigs-of-war, and about 20 armed and other merchant-vessels lying in Batavia Roads; and at the destruction, at Griessee, 11 Dec. 1807, of the dockyard and stores, and of all the men-of-war remaining to Holland in the East Indies. La Bellone was not taken until after a running-fight of considerable length, in which the enemy sustained a loss of 1 man killed and 6 or 7 wounded, and the British of 2 killed and 1 1 wounded. Mr. Pearson continued employed in the East Indies in the San Fiorenzo 36, Capt. John Bastard, until Jan. 1809. From that period he did not again go afloat until May, 1812. He then joined in succession the Union and Ocean 98’s, Capts. Sam. Hood Linzee, Wm. Kent, and Robt. Plampin, both on the Mediterranean station; whence, in Sept. 1813, he returned to England. Proceeding, in the early part of 1814, to Canada in the Ceylon troop-ship, Capt. Arthur Philip Hamilton, he was very actively employed from the following June until Aug. 1815, on the river St. Lawrence and on Lake Ontario, in the flotilla under Capt. Chas. Cunliffe Owen, and as Lieutenant (commission dated 14 Dec. 1814) in the Niagara 20 and Prince Regent 56, Capts. Edw. Collier and Henry Thos. Davies. He afterwards, from 7 Nov. 1816 until promoted to his present rank 3 Oct. 1820, served, latterly as Flag-Lieutenant, under Rear-Admiral Robt. Plampin in the Conqueror 74 on the St. Helena station; and from 24 June, 1836, until the summer of 1839, discharged the duties of an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard. He has since been on half-pay.