Michael Pearson
Encyclopedia
Michael Pearson is an acknowledged expert on Kent clocks and clock-making. He
was born in Kent
, England
and educated at Dartford Grammar School
. He served National Service
with the Intelligence Corps, following which he returned to the private sector, working in sales, marketing and advertising. During this period he became a keen collector of antiques (an established family business), in particular clocks and early oak furniture. His family had been a notable family antique and antiquarian book dealing business in Covent Garden
since 1860, and then in Pall Mall
until 1929. Pearson resurrected the old family business, moving it to Canterbury
, Kent
, where he specialises in antique furniture and clocks.
His first horological book, The Beauty of Clocks, was published in 1979, and he is a respected authority on the history of clocks and clockmaking in Britain
. His book Kent Clocks and Clockmakers was published in 1997 by Derbyshire-based Mayfield Books. He is also currently engaged in collaboration withBill Bruce( the well-known clock dealer in Lewes), writing a book on Sussex clocks & Clockmakers.
was born in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and educated at Dartford Grammar School
Dartford Grammar School
Dartford Grammar School is a selective secondary foundation school for boys in Dartford, Kent, England, which admits girls to its sixth form . All of the students joining the school are from the top 25% of the ability range...
. He served National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with the Intelligence Corps, following which he returned to the private sector, working in sales, marketing and advertising. During this period he became a keen collector of antiques (an established family business), in particular clocks and early oak furniture. His family had been a notable family antique and antiquarian book dealing business in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
since 1860, and then in Pall Mall
Pall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
until 1929. Pearson resurrected the old family business, moving it to Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, where he specialises in antique furniture and clocks.
His first horological book, The Beauty of Clocks, was published in 1979, and he is a respected authority on the history of clocks and clockmaking in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. His book Kent Clocks and Clockmakers was published in 1997 by Derbyshire-based Mayfield Books. He is also currently engaged in collaboration withBill Bruce( the well-known clock dealer in Lewes), writing a book on Sussex clocks & Clockmakers.