This portrait is identified in the accompanying American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin #103 from April 13-17, 2011, within the article "John Pearson: Gunsmith for Sam Colt" by esteemed Colt Paterson researcher Dr. Robert Pershing and is listed as a portrait of Pearson, probably in his 70s. The portrait is also documented in R.L. Wilson's "Life's Tapestry of a Collector, the Gamble Collection." The portrait measures 2 3/4 x 3 1/4 inches (6th Plate), and the case is 3 1/4 x 3 5/8 inches and has embossed floral patterns. The portrait is hand tinted and shows an older man in formal attire and closely resembles the man in copies of the other known portrait (original since lost but also shown in the article as well as some books on Colt) of Pearson in his late 20s. He immigrated from England and was previously trained as a watchmaker but was working for A.T. Baxter as a gunmaker when he became acquainted with young Samuel Colt (age 19) in Baltimore. He then worked directly for Colt and was responsible for improving and turning Samuel Colt's early designs into realities in 1834-1836, including the first prototypes of the famous Paterson revolvers. Because Colt was not a trained draftsman, Pearson was forced to make decisions about the designs himself and solve some of the technical difficulties making him integral in Colt's early success. However, their business relationship faltered due to Colt's tardiness in providing necessary funds, including Pearson's pay, as well as the funds necessary for the rent and various materials Pearson was instructed to purchase. He also tired of Colt applying pressure on him to work at a frenetic pace and appears to have been greatly offended by Colt taking all the credit for his work. Exactly what Pearson did next is different depending on the source but regardless, he moved to the West where he continued to work as a gun maker and dealer until at least the 1870s. Per Pershing, Samuel Colt finally sent him a payment for $30,000 (roughly half a million adjusted for inflation) in 1861 as compensation for his contribution to Colt's considerable success. Though Pershing indicates he found records of him in St. Louis in 1886, multiple other sources confirm he died in the beginning of August 1883 after working as a gunsmith and dealer in Fort Smith for 40 years. He is also known to have served as a master armorer for the Confederacy at the same time that Colt was supplying arms to the Union, and his son died in 1865 from illness acquired while serving in the Confederate Marines and was the last officer appointed to the latter. Multiple newspaper articles indicate Pearson believed even late into life that he deserved considerable credit for Colt's patents, perhaps Colt sending him that considerable sum helped confirm this belief. The Arkansas Democrat in 1900 even went so far to say that Pearson's name should be on every Colt revolver and that Samuel Colt cheated Pearson out of credit based on the fact that Pearson's work on the designs was as Colt's employee and that he had already been paid for the work.

The portrait is fine and has only minor storage type wear, and the case is very good with moderate storage wear including some flaking. Regardless of their failed relationship, John Pearson played a central role in the development of early Colt prototypes and patent models and as such, this portrait is an important piece of history. While all identified Daguerreotypes are valuable, and those linked to important industrial innovators and politicians are especially so, this image is particularly significant as it's reportedly the only known surviving portrait of Pearson. As such, it will be a very considerable contribution to any advanced collection related to Colt firearms.