William Pearce (Liberal politician)

Sir William Pearce (18 March 1853 – 24 August 1932) was an English chemical manufacturer and Liberal Party politician in the East End of London, in England. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Limehouse constituency from 1906 to 1922.

Pearce was born in Poplar, London, the son of William Pearce, a chemical manufacturer based in East London. He was educated at the Royal College of Chemistry and School of Mines and at the Royal College of Science in South Kensington. In 1885 he married Ethel Alexandra, the daughter of Edwin Neame from Selling, Kent. They had four daughters.

Pearce followed his father into the chemical trade. He became a director of Spencer, Chapman & Messel, Ltd which was located in Silvertown. He later became a Vice-President of the Federation of British Industries and was a Fellow of the Chemical Society. He also served as the first Treasurer of the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers which was established in October 1916 to encourage co-operation in the industry in the face of effective co-ordination of the sector by wartime Germany. He was later elected a member of the Council of the London Chamber of Commerce.

Pearce entered politics through local service. He was first elected as a member of the London School Board representing the Tower Hamlets Division at the elections of 1876 and served on the School Board for many years. In 1892 he was adopted as Progressive candidate for the London County Council (LCC) elections in the Tower Hamlets (Limehouse) division. He won his seat, topping the poll, gaining more votes than the sitting Progressive Party member, Arthur Leon. He represented Limehouse until 1901 during which time he sat on the Technical Education Board (1895–99). He was also a chairman of the Main Drainage Committee.

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