Richard Pearce was the father-in-law of Richard Quiller Couch, who married his eldest daughter Lydia Penneck Pearce in 1853.

Richard Pearce was born at Tredinny, St. Buryan, to the west of Penzance, on 22nd November, 1792. Tredinny is in the centre of the area used by Edward Lluyd for his researches into Late Cornish in 1701.

He moved to Penzance and lived (or had his office) at the junction of Chapel Street and Vounderveor Lane; above which, in 1819, a public dispensary was established, partly through his influence.

Richard Pearce was one of the most distinguished men of Penzance and at the centre of many activities. He was a manager of a local savings bank. He was also the Hanoverian and Belgian Consul, and the French, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Prussian, Spanish, Portuguese and Netherlands Vice-Consul. Furthermore, he was a Lloyds Agent and the Receiver of Wrecks. Richard Couch possibly initially came across Richard Pearce when he acted as consulting surgeon at the Public Dispensary and Richard Pearce was the dispensary's secretary.

Richard Pearce and Richard Quiller Couch appear to have worshipped in the same church and this is probably where Richard Couch first became acquainted with Lydia. Richard Pearce was a leading figure in the town and probably wealthy, so Lydia was a good catch for Richard Couch. It is possible that before he died, Richard Pearce became aware of Richard Couch’s failing health and purchased the annuity upon which Lydia lived after her husband’s death in 1863.

Richard Pearce died on the 23rd August, 1862, shortly before Richard Quiller Couch, and lies buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s in Penzance.

Business interests

  • General Merchants and ship owner
  • Agent for Lloyds
  • Hanoverian Consul
  • Vice Consul for Sweden, Norway, Spain, Prussia, Denmark, the Netherlands and Portugal
  • Consular Agent for the U.S.A., Brazil and Russia
  • Deputy Consular Agent for France
  • Agent for the Insurance Companies of Copenhagen, Gothenburg, France and Belgium.
  • His ports included Penzance, St. Ives, Padstow and the Scilly Isles.

Public Positions

  • Alderman and five times Mayor of Penzance
  • Justice of the Peace

Other Positions

  • Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons and Provincial Grand Treasurer