Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Pearson, Sir Arthur

PEARSON, SIR (CYRIL) ARTHUR, English newspaper proprietor. He was born at Wookey, England, in 1866, and began his newspaper career on Sir George Newnes' “Tit-Bits,” which enjoyed a circulation till that time unknown in England. He later started “Pearson's Weekly” on the same lines, following this with similar journals. In 1900 he started the “Daily Express” in imitation of the “Daily Mail,” which had then an enormous circulation. Like Harmsworth, later Lord Northcliffe, he came into ownership of many journals. Later he lost his eyesight, and has since devoted himself to philanthropic work among the blind. He was made baronet in 1916, and in 1919 wrote “Victory Over Blindness.”