Jr. William Whatley Pierson

Born in 1890 and remembered as William Whatley Pierson Jr., he built a long academic career at the University of North Carolina. NCpedia describes him as serving there from 1915 into the 1960s, first in history and government and later as professor and head of political science, as well as a Kenan Professor.

Pierson is associated with books including Principles and Practice of Government in Rural Latin-America and Government and Politics in Latin America (with Federico G. Gil). His writing suggests a strong interest in comparative government and the political development of Latin American countries.

He died in 1966. Though not a household name today, he appears to have been an important academic figure in North Carolina and in the early growth of political science as a university field.