James Pearson (1594–1658) was a minister of the Church of Scotland in the 17th century. He was appointed minister of Dunblane in 1624 and became dean of Dunblane Cathedral.^[1] Nine years later, he was given a charter under the Great Seal of the Barony of Kippenross.

Pearson was also the first laird of Kippenross.^[2]

Pearson was born in Kippenross, Perthshire, in 1594, to Alexander Pearson and Bessie Eistoun.^[3]

He graduated from the University of Edinburgh, with a Master of Arts, in 1615.

In 1623, Pearson was appointed minister of Dunblane, and became dean of Dunblane Cathedral the following year.^[1]

Pearson lost his job as minister during the overthrow of the episcopacy.^[1]

Pearson married Jean, daughter of David Drummond of Innermay, with whom he had three sons and a daughter.^[3]

Around 1624, Pearson built the townhouse in Dunblane which is now the home of Dunblane Museum. Pearson's initials and the coat-of-arms on the carved plaque are his. The first floor of the main block was likely his townhouse.^[4]

His grandson, Hugh, planted the Beech Walk,^[2] beside Allan Water at the original 1646 Kippenross House.^[1] The Kippenross estate remained in the Pearson family until 1778, when it passed to the Stirlings of Kippendavie.^[2]