Pearson, Karl (1857–1936), an English mathematician and scientist. Pearson helped develop modern statistics and applied it to biological data, particularly problems of heredity and evolution. He was a disciple of Francis Gallon. Pearson attended Cambridge University, and after practicing law briefly became professor of mathematics and mechanics at the University of London in 1884. In 1911 he succeeded Galton as professor of eugenics at the university.