1896-1969
Journalist

Muckraking Journalist.

Drew Pearson served as one of Washington's premier muckraking journalists for over thirty years, writing the syndicated column "Washington Merry-Go-Round," first with Robert S. Allen and later with Jack Anderson.

World Journey.

Pearson was born in Evanston, Illinois, to a Quaker professor who served as governor of the Virgin Islands. After graduating from Swarthmore College in 1919, Pearson traveled to post-World War I Europe to learn about diplomacy but instead became the director of relief in the Balkans for the British Red Cross. In 1921 he returned to the United States. In 1922 he began a self-financed world journey, signing on as seaman on the merchant vessel S.S. President Madison for a journey to the Far East. He jumped ship in Yokahama, Japan, and traveled for two years in Japan, the Soviet Union, China, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and India.

Newspaper Beginnings.

During...