PEARSON, Richard Mumford, jurist, born in Davie county, North Carolina, 28 June, 1805; died in Winston, North Carolina, 12 January, 1878. He was graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1823, licensed to practise law in 1826, was in the legislature in 1829-'33, and an unsuccessful candidate for congress in 1834. He was a judge of the superior court in 1836-'48, and at the latter date he was elevated to the supreme bench, succeeding Chief-Justice Frederick Nash in 1850, and holding office until his death. He conducted a law-school at his residence at Richmond Hill for many years. It was attended by hundreds of students from his own and the adjacent states. Judge Pearson was regarded as one of the leading lawyers of his day.