Pearson, Karl

Pearson, Karl, 1857–1936, English scientist. He studied law, taught geometry, and applied mathematics and mechanics, and in 1911 became professor of eugenics at the Univ. of London and director of the eugenics laboratory. A disciple of Francis Galton, he applied statistical methods to the study of biological problems (especially evolution and heredity), a science he called biometrics. He founded and edited Biometrika and was author of many works including The Grammar of Science (1892), Chances of Death (2 vol., 1897), and a biography of Francis Galton (3 vol., 1914–30).